Since the downfall of the Awami League government in August, political activities in Feni have seen a notable shift, with many people, reportedly aligned with the BNP, resurfacing on the political scene. This change in power dynamics has coincided with a significant increase in sand extraction from rivers, particularly in Sonagazi, Chhagolnaiya, and Parshuram upazilas of Feni district. Local people have described the situation with a phrase "Awami League out, BNP in." According to reports, several people, claimed to be BNP followers, have taken control over sand extraction sites. Waterlogging leaves thousands stranded in Khulna’s Beel Dakatiya for 2 months There are also allegations of looting the extracted sand. Following the political transition, some contractors previously aligned with the Awami League have vacated these sites, allowing opportunists to exploit the situation. But, the fears of retaliation have kept local residents silent about these activities. Unregulated sand extraction has intensified under the pretext of flood relief and repair projects, with around 20 sites currently in operation.  

Sate Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zahid Faruk on Thursday directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to remain  vigilant to stop illegal sand extraction from rivers. The dams which are built on the rivers collapse due to the illegal sand extraction, he said while talking to reporters after the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2023 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Sand can be extracted only from those places which the Water Development Board declares as ‘Balu Mahals’ (sand quarries) as sand is needed for the development of the country, he said. “In this way we will be able to meet the need for sand as well as prevent river erosion.” Due to climate change, river erosion and flood has increased in Bangladesh, said the state minister. “Last year we saw early flooding in rural areas. Even then we didn't let the crops get damaged. I have taken precautions.” Read more: Sand lifting from rivers at night to be banned: State Minister Stating that a few DCs spoke about the problem of river erosion in their areas, he said, "We are working, but the pace is slow due to the global recession." “When a problem is raised from an area, we take action after conducting a survey,” he said urging the engineers to talk to local public representatives and solve their problems.

The Appellate Division has ruled that Laxmipur UP Chairman Md Selim Khan must pay a huge amount in royalties against sand extraction from the Meghna river bank. The Chandpur Deputy Commissioner has been asked to implement the order by ensuring the royalties are collected and paid.  The full text of the judgement announced on May 29 by a bench of three justices led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique was released on Monday. It said since 2016, writ petitioner Selim Khan had been extracting sand from the Meghna river in a part of Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar indiscriminately, without paying any royalties, causing the government to incur a huge loss. Appellate Division asked to collect the royalties from Selim Khan for the time period starting from April 5, 2018, the date of an earlier High Court order, to April 4, 2022 -when the order was suspended by the Supreme Court. The bench also expressed suspicion over the High Court battle's lawyer representing the state, as the order was passed even after the respondent did not submit any affidavit against the rule issued earlier. It also expressed discontent over the silence of law enforcers and Chandpur district administration.   Read: HC issues rule on e-scammers Dalalplus Since 2016, Salim Khan has been extracting sand from the river following a High Court order which goes against the Balumohal and Soil Management Act, 2010, said Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mainul Hasan. The act stipulates the law according to which sand quarries (balu mahal) are recognised. In the May 29 verdict this year, the Appellate Division canceled the order following an appeal and published its full text on Monday, Mainul said.   In 2015, Selim Khan filed a writ petition seeking directions for sand extraction after conducting a hydrographic survey in Meghna river at his own expense in 21 mouzas of Chandpur and Haimchar upazila. The writ was filed mentioning to activate a route for water transport. The High Court issued a rule on July 9 of the same year on the primary hearing of the writ petition. Later, on 5 April 2018, the High Court disposed of the rule delivering verdict saying that there is sufficient sand and soil in the river of those mouzas and there is no obstacle to extracting it. The verdict directed the defendants, including Chandpur deputy commissioner, to allow sand extraction of 86.30 cubic meters (30.46 crore cubic feet) from the Meghna river in the 21 mouzas. In March this year, the state filed a leave to appeal to the Appellate Division seeking stay of the High Court order regarding sand extraction in Maghna. According to the state's leave to appeal, the High Court did not realize that the hydrographic survey report is not the sole basis for extracting sand from a river under the Balumahal and Soil Management Law. According to the Balumahal and Soil Management Law, whether there is any damage to the environment, landslides, diversion of river or canal water, government establishments (such as bridges, culverts, roads, ferry terminals, markets, tea gardens, river dams, etc.) and residential areas or not, all have to be considered by the Deputy Commissioner. Leave to Appeal further said that no assessment has been made from Chandpur deputy commissioner office regarding sand extraction from Chandpur shoals. Even the mouzas mentioned in the writ have not been declared as Balumahal by the Divisional Commissioner. Hydrographic surveys are used to identify or map where the soil is at the bottom of a river in a modern way. Hydrographic survey is to be done first to extract sand from shoals. And so, the HC order to allow Selim Khan to extract sand was declared null and void.

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.

Dhaleshwari River’s erosion has taken a serious turn in Keraniganj upazila where the river is gobbling up houses, establishments and crop lands.