Allegations have emerged against an influential group for illegally extracting sand by cutting through a newly constructed government embankment built to protect the banks of the Gorai River in Khoksa Upazila of Kushtia.
The accused allegedly cut through geo-bags used for river protection and damaged the embankment slope to create roads for transporting sand. As a result, the embankment, constructed at a cost of several crore taka, is now under serious threat.
Locals fear that during the upcoming monsoon season, river erosion could engulf nearby government primary schools, madrasas, markets, and hundreds of homes.
According to documents from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), a 1.63-kilometre river protection embankment was constructed in the Goneshpur area during the 2023-24 fiscal year under the project titled "Dredging and Protection of the Gorai River."
On May 3, officials from the Water Development Board visited the site and found that a group of miscreants had cut the geo-bags dumped for sand extraction purposes and damaged the embankment slope to build roads for transporting sand, causing severe damage to government property.
Based on information from locals, the Water Development Board identified four individuals as the main accused in the incident. They are: Monirul Islam (40), son of late Idris Ali of Goneshpur village; Jewel Ahmed (42), son of Anowar Ali of Rajapur village; Jahir Uddin (50), son of late Noskar Ali of Aijol village; and Ibrahim Hossain (35), son of Ansar Ali of the same village.
Residents alleged that the accused continue the illegal sand extraction activities both day and night. As the embankment has already been damaged ahead of the rainy season, there are growing fears that nearby government primary schools, madrasas, playgrounds, markets, and valuable properties may be washed away by river erosion.
In connection with the incident, BWDB Sub-Assistant Engineer Md. Shamsur Rahman filed a written complaint with Khoksa Police Station, demanding immediate legal action against those responsible for damaging government property.
Kushtia Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md. Rashidul Rahman said,
"The government is spending crores of taka to prevent river erosion. But if people continue cutting the embankment to extract sand for personal interests, the entire project will fail. We have requested the police administration to take the matter seriously."
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khoksa Police Station Md. Zakir Hossain said the police had received a complaint from the Water Development Board and necessary legal action would be taken after investigation.
