Illegal sand and soil extraction by dredgers operating under cover of darkness has intensified erosion along the Arial Khan River in Madaripur Sadar Upazila, leaving more than 50 families at risk of losing their homes, residents say.
The extraction, which locals allege is carried out by an influential group in the Hogolpatia and Char Hogolpatia areas of Jhaudi Union, has disrupted the natural balance of the riverbed and embankments, worsening bank collapse in recent years.
The Arial Khan River once sustained thousands of families through fishing, farming and silt-enriched land, but residents say it has now become a source of dread as homesteads and farmland continue to be swallowed by the water.
Local resident Rakib Sardar said the extraction had gone on for a long time and was directly linked to the worsening erosion, cautioning that further inaction would cost more families their homes.
Among those affected is Md Enamul Akn of Hogolpatia, who once farmed close to ten bighas of land before the 1988 flood began eroding his holdings.
He eventually lost his remaining two bighas of inherited land along with his homestead, and now lives on land belonging to someone else. He said the river had grown more hazardous since dredging began, and that residents were reluctant to protest given the influence of those involved.
Fellow villager Titol Akn described losing his paddy stock, farmland and home to the river, forcing him to rebuild on a small plot of land, roughly six decimals in size, on the opposite bank.
He said such extensive erosion had been rare in the area until dredgers arrived, noting that many locals avoided speaking out for fear of reprisal.
According to residents, two to three engine-powered dredgers typically operate across different stretches of the river from dusk until dawn for most of the year, with boats simultaneously ferrying away the extracted sand.
To evade detection, the vessels and dredgers are reportedly relocated during daylight hours, making enforcement through daytime inspection difficult.
Most affected residents declined to publicly identify those responsible, citing fear of powerful figures behind the operations.
Locals estimate that over 50 families have already lost land or homes to erosion, or face imminent displacement, with riverbank collapses occurring on a near-daily basis.
They warned that continued illegal extraction could accelerate erosion further, potentially submerging large sections of Hogolpatia and Char Hogolpatia.
Residents are calling for an immediate halt to the dredging, stronger erosion-prevention measures and legal action against those responsible.
Madaripur Water Development Board Sub-Divisional Engineer Shubho Sarker attributed the erosion to increased water flow intensity, noting that collapses were occurring at every bend of the river.
He said a survey was under way and that preventive measures would follow, adding that any dredgers found operating at night would face swift action in coordination with the local administration.
Madaripur Deputy Commissioner Miz Marjina Akter acknowledged river erosion as a significant challenge for the district, saying her office was addressing the issue through regular mobile court operations led by executive magistrates.
She said a coordinated response involving local residents was needed to tackle the problem, and confirmed she had personally visited several erosion-hit areas, with photographs and reports already forwarded to the government via the Water Development Board for further action. She added that further coordinated steps with local communities would follow.
