A legal notice has been served to the relevant authorities to halt illegal sand extraction from Tetulia River near the Baburhat launch terminal in Bhola’s Char Fasson Upazila, in an effort to protect the riverbank protection embankment.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Monirul Islam Mia sent the notice on Wednesday via registered post and email.
The notice was addressed to 14 individuals, including the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs; the secretaries of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; the inspector general of police (IGP); the director general of the Department of Environment; the chairman of BIWTA; the director general of the Coast Guard; the deputy commissioner of Bhola; the superintendent of police of Bhola; the upazila nirbahi officer of Char Fasson; the executive engineer of Water Development Board; the assistant director of District Environment Office; and the officers-in-charge of South Aicha and Shashibhushan Police Stations.
According to the legal notice, illegal sand extraction using multiple dredgers has been conducted openly for several days near the Baburhat launch terminal.
This activity has placed the government-constructed riverbank protection embankment and concrete blocks at serious risk, leading to fears of significant erosion at any time.
The notice highlights that 7 to 8 dredgers are extracting sand from the riverbed daily, creating deep holes and causing the costly embankment to face the risk of disappearing into the river.
It is further alleged that cracks have already appeared in the road and pontoon area adjacent to the Baburhat launch terminal.
Furthermore, the illegal extraction is severely damaging the river’s environment and the habitats of aquatic life. The breeding grounds for various fish species, particularly Hilsa, are under threat, which creates a risk of endangering the livelihoods of local fishermen.
The notice asserts that an influential local circle is leading these illegal activities, allegedly collecting approximately Tk5,000 daily from each dredger.
The notice calls upon the relevant authorities to immediately stop the illegal sand extraction, investigate the matter, and take legal action against those involved. It also urges emergency measures to protect the riverbank embankment, the Baburhat launch terminal, and the local environment.
The notice warns that if effective measures are not taken promptly, a writ petition will be filed with the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, alongside other necessary legal steps.
