The illegal extraction of stones and boulders from streams and hills has been going on unabated in Bandarban. As a result, many brooks and streams have already started to dry up.
Dying streams will severely impact local agriculture where streams are the only water source. Moreover, many are dredging hills in search of stones.
Locals say smugglers are also using explosives to extract stones at various upazilas in the district and feared the environment would be endangered if nothing is done. They alleged the activity had been going on for years with the administration doing little.
Locally extracted stones are being used in various development projects instead of stones from Sylhet. The lure of easy cash has attracted many, particularly those belonging to the ruling party, residents of affected areas claimed.
Locals alleged that Maqbool Ukil, Md Kalu Member and Abdul Rahim of sadar upazila’s Tankabati Union, Abul Bashar Driver of Roangchhari, Mong Thoai Mya Roni of Thanchi and Md Abul Kalam of Alikadam upazila had been involved in the illegal business for years.
Zia from Chittagong’s Bajalia had permission to collect floating stones. But he extracted stones from Thaikhang stream and stored them at Menroa Para, allegedly after bribing local government officials.
Tonkabati Union’s Saring Para Karbari Paring Mro said unabated extraction would severely affect the ecology and make the area uninhabitable. Thanchi Upazila Chairman Kya Hla Ching Marma said: “We will face acute water shortage if the current trend continues as it is killing the streams.”
Already, several streams and brooks at Mangu, Toinfa Mouja and Pamia Hill have been badly damaged following stone extraction for the Alikadam-Thanchi Road construction. Tonkabati residents staged a human chain protest on January 31 in front of the Bandarban Press Club demanding an end to it.
The district administration permits extraction of a specific amount of stone within a certain period. But locals claimed contractors belonging to the ruling party dig up every stream and hill in the area after securing permission for extracting stones from one stream.
Bandarban sadar’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Aparna Baidya said they would take actions against anyone illegally extracting stones. Thanchi’s UNO Mohammad Anowar Hossain said no-one had permission to extract stones in the upazila. “We will raid illegal extraction sites soon.”
