Unchecked sand mining from the Chela River has resulted in devastating riverbank erosion, posting a grave threat to agricultural lands, educational institutions, markets and forcing many people to shift to other places.   The erosion has already devoured two villages and five more villages in Doarabazar upazila are facing threat. Local people have demanded the authorities’ immediate intervention to halt sand extraction from the river, which flows through Narsingpur union.   Visiting the erosion-hit areas, UNB the correspondent found that 30 families in Sarpinpara village on the northern bank of the Chela River have turned homeless. Farmers in Kishoreganj busy preparing seedbeds for Boro cultivation The victims included families of Azad Mia, Sanur Ali and Monir Hossain whose homes were washed away.   Besides, the river eroded 20 homesteads, a school and a customs office in Purbachairgaon village over the past one year as sand lifting from the river continued. It also devoured 50 homesteads and rural roads in Sonapur, Daulatpur, Rahimerpara and Sarpinpara villages.   Shahjahan, a resident of Purbachairgaon village, said he lost two acres of land and his home to the river in the past two years. Now, he and his family live in a loft on a land. “If sand mining isn’t stopped, no village along the Chela River will survive,” he said.   Azad Mia of Sarpinpara described how sand mining has left families destitute. “We’ve moved our home five times, but all our land is gone. The Chela River is swallowing us whole,” he lamented.   Azad Mia alleged that some unscrupulous people in collusion with local authorities are illegally extracting sand.  Union Parishad member Faiz Uddin of Rahimerpara village accused local influential people of profiting from sand mining at the cost of local lives and livelihoods.   "Even after 52 years of independence, the plight of the riverbank people has been ignored," said Faiz Uddin. He called for an immediate halt to sand mining leases and measures to protect the vulnerable areas.   ‘Bou-Jamai Mela’ celebrates rural tradition in Lalmonirhat Contacted, members of Sylhet Battalion 48 BGB denied allegations of their involvement, claiming that sand miners often evade their watch.   Narsingpur UP Chairman Nur Uddin Ahmed said that the number of people on the riverbanks who have lost their homes is increasing day by day. He warned that continued erosion could erase entire villages from the map.   Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ilias Mia said, "I have just heard that homes are being destroyed due to sand mining from the Chela River. Necessary measures will be taken to protect the area along the riverbanks."

The government is formulating a policy on extraction of sand from rivers where night-time extraction will be banned said State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk. The minister said this at a ‘BSRF Dialogue’ arranged by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum at the secretariat on Monday. He said sand mining is the prime reason for river erosion and the business is booming though the investment is very low. Also read: Laxmipur UP Chairman Salim Khan can’t extract sand from Meghna: SC “We cannot stop sand extraction from rivers as it will increase the price of sand and different development projects will be hampered. We urge the concerned businessmen to follow government’s guideline but they mostly lift sand from the riverbanks where there are cement blocks, mud embankments. Even if we use iron made embankments it won’t last longer for sand extraction,” he added. The Minister said the proposed policy will soon be placed during cabinet meeting. “So we suggest the sand extraction can be done from 6 am to 6 pm so that everyone including the locals see the matter.” Regarding Teesta water sharing deal with India the minister said, “We are concerned about the Teesta deal and want to make it happen.  The progress in this regard has slowed down due to the Chief Minister of West Bengal. We may soon be able to resolve the issue.” Zahid Faruk said “I have been keeping an eye on Sunamganj flood situation from the very beginning. A project worth Tk 1,547 crore has been taken to dredge 14 rivers there. We will try to get it passed by ECNEC by October and start  activities before the next monsoon.” Also read: Flood situation worsens in Sunamganj, Sylhet; thousands marooned He said even if 20 percent of the work is done before the monsoon, there will be no more damage in the haor area of Sunamganj. BSRF President Tapan Biswas presided over the programme conducted by BSRF General Secretary Masudul Haque.

Illegal and unabated sand extraction is causing serious erosion on a six-kilometre stretch on the bank of Jamuna River in Sirajganj’s Shahjadpur Upazila.

Illegal sand lifting from the Mukteshwari River in Manirampur upazila in Jashore is going on unabated, putting a bridge and a cremation ground at Hajirhat in the upazila under threat of collapse.

Narayanganj, Oct 9 (UNB) –Illegal sand extraction from the Meghna River in Sonargaon upazila here is going on unabated, posing erosion threat to vast tracks of cropland, adjacent villages and century old traditional Anandabazar Haat along the river.