Indiscriminate sand lifting from the Bongshi river in Bashna area of Dhamrai upazila is posing a threat to nearby farmlands and homesteads, escalating the risk of river erosion.

A syndicate of sand traders, led by one Robiul Karim Rubel, is extracting sand using two locally assembled dredging machines for the last eight months, said residents.

Sand lifted from riverbed is usually used to fill ponds and low-lying lands.

During a recent visit to the spot, this correspondent saw labourers extracting sand from the river with two diesel-run dredgers, while the sand was being transported away using plastic pipes.

Rashid Mia, a temporary worker who has been engaged in sand lifting for the past 20 days, said the two dredgers are owned by Rubel.

The 38-year-old said they lift sand from 8am to 10pm. Each dredger lifts 2,000 to 2,500 square feet of sand daily from the riverbed, he added.

A mobile court from the Dhamrai upazila administration burnt down the dredging machines a week before Eid-ul-Azha, said locals. But later, the traders brought two new dredgers and resumed extraction, possibly by striking a deal with the law enforcers, they claimed.

Shamsul Huq, president of Savar Nodi O Poribesh Unnayon Parishad, said sand lifting upsets the natural course of a river and weakens nearby land. “This is entirely illegal and poses danger of river erosion,” he added.

The mobile courts are not sufficient to control this menace as the dredgers resume work soon after they leave, he said. “Strict legal action has to be taken against the owners of these dredgers,” Huq added.

Ananda Sharker of Bashna village, whose house is right next to where the dredgers are used, said, “This has been going on for long by Rubel and his men. Whenever we protest, they say that our lands are not at risk.”

Nasima Begum, a resident of the area, said, “We feel insecure… our homes may get devoured by the river anytime.”

Students in the area said the dredgers are loud and they are unable to hear their tutors over the sound of the machines. They urged the authorities concerned to take steps against those who are engaged in such mindless work.

Contacted last week, Rubel, a former member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League central committee, said sand is not being extracted from the river. “We are lifting sand from a private land with permission from the land owner.”

He, however, did not disclose the name of the land owner. Asked again, he refused to speak about the matter and hung up the phone. He did not answer his phone afterwards.

This correspondent was able to get in touch with Rubel yesterday. Rubel said using his name, his “younger brothers from the party” are extracting sand from the river to fill up a low land. He said he does not know anything else about it.

When asked, Abul Kalam, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Dhamrai, said, “We did not give permission to anyone to extract sand from the riverbed or any land.”

“We have conducted several mobile court drives against such illegal dredging. We will continue to take steps in this regard,” the UNO added.

Fazlul Haque, in-charge of Kawlipara Police Outpost in Dhamrai, said, “I do not know who runs the dredgers as I joined the outpost recently.”

Meanwhile, amid the assurance of taking steps and denial of involvement, sand lifting from Bongshi river continues, putting lives and land at risk.