Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized two dredgers and two bulkheads used for illegal sand extraction from the Kirtankhola River in Barishal.
The vessels were seized by the Coast Guard Station Barishal around 8:00am on Saturday during a routine patrol near Charbaria, under Barishal Sadar Police Station, said Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam, media officer of the Coast Guard, according to a press release.
No arrests were made, as those involved fled after noticing the Coast Guard personnel.
Following the seizure, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Barishal Sadar conducted a mobile court operation and collected Tk4 lakh in fines from the owners of the dredgers and bulkheads. The money was deposited in the government treasury, and the vessels were released after the owners signed undertakings.
Sabbir Alam said such operations would continue to protect riverside agricultural land and homesteads from illegal sand extractors.
