Stop sand extraction from Sandhya river: HC to govt

The High Court today ordered the government to stop sand extraction from Sandhya River at Babuganj in Barishal to prevent the devouring of Birshreshtha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Smriti Museum and other local structures including his house into the river.

In response to a writ petition, the court stayed the work order issued by Barishal’s divisional commissioner on April 15 this year permitting Md Zahidur Rahman, owner of M/S Satata Traders, to extract sands from Sandhya River at Babuganj for three months.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain in four weeks why the work order permitting Zahidur Rahman to extract sands from Sandhya River should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities to show cause why they should not be ordered to stop sand extortion from Sandhya River in order to prevent the devouring of Birshreshtha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Smriti Museum and other structures including his house into the river.

Secretaries to the ministries of land, housing and public works and forest and environment, Barishal’s divisional commissioner and deputy commissioners of Barishal and Dhaka and five others concerned have been made respondents to the rule, petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal told The Daily Star.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Abdul Kader Mal, a local madrasha principal, challenging the legality of the work order issued by Barishal’s divisional commissioner permitting Zahidur Rahmanto extract sands from Sandhya River.

He said in the petition different structures including Birshreshtha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Smriti Museum and his house and local college and madrasha will be devoured into the river if the sand extraction is continued.    

Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah-Al-Mahmud represented the state.