Sand extraction from the Fatki River in the bordering areas of Jhenaidah and Magura has emerged as a major threat to the banks of the waterway.
Locals from Natopara and Mashakhali villages said sand traders have been using dredgers to extract sand from the riverbed, which is later sold to contractors of different commercial projects.
With the unabated extraction over the past two weeks, banks on both sides of the river have started to erode gradually. The villagers were unsuccessful in their efforts to stop the sand extraction due to the proximity of the traders with the local leaders of the ruling political party, they said.
The Fatki River on its west bank has Magura and Jhenaidah on the east bank, where it merges with the Begabati, and with Bhiara in Khulna.
Villagers from Natopara under Kaliganj upazila in Jhenaidah and Mashakhali under Salikha upazila in Magura claimed that a trader named Shahinur Rahman has set up powerful dredging machines in the middle of the river and has been extracting four to five truckloads of sand every day for the past two weeks. Each truckload of sand was selling for between Tk1,800 and Tk2,000.
Some villagers from Natopra, requesting anonymity, said major portion of the land on both sides of the river belonged to the villagers. They were expecting the banks to be eroded even further, if the extraction continued.
When contacted, the trader Shahinur Rahman said he has been extracting sand for use in government development works. He also claimed that the extraction would not affect the riverbanks or land belonging to the locals.
“If the sand extraction is stopped, how will the development construction works be completed?” he said.
Salikha Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Nazmum Nahar, said the authorities had stopped some traders from extracting sand from the river a few weeks back. If necessary the administration will take action again against those involved.
