Illegal sand lifting with dredgers from Jamuneshwari River at Nagerhaat village under Badarganj upazila of the district is posing serious threat to a local market and cultivable land and houses.

Villagers alleged that a section of unscrupulous people have been doing this callous act for a long time. They said croplands and houses along the river are threatened by erosion.

They alleged that the sand traders are doing this illegal practice in collusion with some influential local political leaders and dishonest officials in the administration.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found some dredgers lifting sand from the river. The lifters stack the extracted sand nearby and trucks take it to different areas of Rangpur and adjacent districts.

Uttam Kumar Saha of the area told this correspondent that the people involved in sand lifting are mostly influential. He said the villagers had complained several times to the authorities concerned, but to no effect. He further said that law enforcing agencies seem to be reluctant to take any action against the illegal sand lifters.

They urged the authorities concerned to take adequate measures to stop the practice in order to protect Nagerhat Bazar and its adjacent areas from erosion.

Bankim Chandra, a sand trader of the area, said they are lifting sand from the government's property.

"We are not doing any harm to the villagers," he added.

Fazal Mian, another sand lifter, said not only he but also Khoka Mian, Tara Mian of Sonarpara, and Abdur Rashid and Abu Reza of Telipara are involved with illegal sand lifting. "If the administration stops their sand lifting, then I will stop it too," Fazal said.

Raza Mian, another sand trader, said "if we stop sand lifting how will we maintain our families?"

Khondkar Ishtiaque Ahmed, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Badarganj, said local administration will take immediate steps to stop sand lifting from the river.