A man was fined Tk 30,000 for illegally extracting sand from a government canal in Maheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar using a shallow machine.
The fine was imposed on Mizanur Rahman during a mobile court operation conducted Thursday afternoon at Halayar Mar Chhara, near Al Amin Model Academy School in Andharghona area of Kalarmarchhara Union.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Rubayet Ahmed led the operation. He fined Mizanur under the relevant provisions of the Sand and Soil Management Act, 2010, and seized the shallow machine and other equipment used for extracting sand.
Acting Chairman of Kalarmarchhara Union Parishad Abu Ahmed was also present during the operation.
Locals said sand has been extracted illegally from government canals used for the flow of water from the hills for a long time. Such activities not only deprive the government of revenue but also pose risks to the island’s environment, ecosystem and public interests, they said.
According to local residents, several syndicates have allegedly been extracting sand from different locations while evading administrative action, earning large sums through the illegal trade.
They welcomed the recent operation and urged the administration to conduct similar drives against other illegal sand extractors, seize unauthorized sand stockpiles and equipment, and bring legally recoverable sand under government revenue management.
Maheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Imran Mahmud Dalim said protecting the island is everyone’s responsibility.
“No one involved in illegal activities, including sand extraction by misusing names or influence, will be spared,” he said, adding that administrative drives against such activities would continue.
