At least 38 dredgers used for illegal stone lifting from three rivers were destroyed by a mobile court at some villages of Patgram upazila in the district in the last one week. But no stone lifter could be arrested because they managed to flee, keeping their dredgers on the spots.

The mobile court led by Noor Kutubul Alam, Patgram upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), has launched a drive against illegal stone lifting from Dharla, Saniyazan and Shingimari rivers of the upazila.

Alam said he has been conducting the mobile court with the help of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and has been able to bring the illegal act under control. "I am always ready to conduct drive against illegal stone lifting as soon as I get information," the UNO said, adding that he could not fine or jail anyone because they had fled the spots before his arrival.

 Local people of Islampur village in the upazila said illegal stone lifting has decreased, but it is going on in isolated areas. "If the upazila administration continues the drive against it, illegal stone lifting would come to an end," they said. "Members of the syndicate of lifters now do the work during the night, managing the officer-in-charge (OC) of Patgram Police Station," they added. 

However, Rezaul Karim, OC of the Patgram Police Station, denied the allegation and said he is not involved with illegal stone lifting.

A report headlined "Illegal stone lifting from rivers goes on unabated" was published in the Daily Star on June 2. The administration started taking action against illegal stone lifting after the report was published.  

Stone lifting from the three rivers of the upazila is a longstanding problem, polluting the environment and creating the threat of land subsidence. A strong syndicate formed by some people belonging to the ruling party, BNP and Jamaat, has been lifting stones using diesel runs dredgers at 30 villages of the upazila. Local people don't dare protest against the syndicate, fearing harassment or false case against them.

TM Mojahidul Islam, superintendent of police (SP) in Lalmonirhat, said some influential people are allegedly involved with stone lifting, and a combined operation by Rab, BGB, police and administration is needed to stop the illegal act.

Admitting that stone lifting is longstanding problem, Habibur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Lalmonirhat, said the drive against illegal stone lifting is going on regularly.

Motahar Hossain, AL MP from Llamonirhat-1 (Hatibandha and Patgram upazila), said, as a public representative, he has already ordered the local administration and police to take stern action against illegal stone lifting and the lifters in Patgram upazila.