Earth lifting makes dyke vulnerable to collapse

Unabated earth lifting along the embankment built to protect around 15 villages from river erosion is making the dykes in Kumarkhali upazila in the district vulnerable to collapse at any time. 

The lifted earth is used in a brick kiln owned by Lutfar Rahman, chairman of Sadaki Union Parishad (UP) in the upazila. Sources allege that the chairman himself was involved in this misdeed, but no action has been taken despite repeated appeals by the locals.

When he visited the area on Tuesday, this correspondent found that a digging machine was lifting earth from the embankment. The work has been going on for the last couple of weeks. Several ditches have been dug alongside the dyke and holes made in the dyke. 

The only dyke to protect the villages from erosion, it was built in 1997. The illegal activity increases the risk of erosion, much to the worry of the people of around 15 villages that have already faced erosion several times.

Abu Bakar Siddik of Hijlakar village said they do not dare to stop the dirt theft as it is being done by the UP chairman himself.

Bipul Biswas of Patharbaria village said they went to Kumarkhali Upazila Nirbahi Office (UNO) with a written allegation several days ago. “But lower class officials of UNO office told us to go chairman Lutfar Rahman,” Bipul told this correspondent.

Contacted, UNO Sahela Akhter told this correspondent that she will look into the matter.

This correspondent also talked to chairman Lutfar Rahman. He said over the phone that he asked his men to collect sand and earth from the river bed for his brick kiln. “I didn't ask them to cut roadside earth," he said, adding that he would look into the matter.