Illegal hill cutting has continued unabated in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail, posing a serious threat to the environment and biodiversity. Even though the local administration is conducting drives, red soil extraction from the hills is going on in the upazila, according to local sources.
They further said that organized syndicates are illegally removing red soil from hills, using various tactics. Large quantities of soil are being transported by dump trucks, causing extensive damage to roads and infrastructures. Areas including Gorai, Ajagana, Tarafpur, Latifpur and Banshtoil unions have been particularly affected, leaving the surrounding environment increasingly vulnerable.
Residents allege that influential soil traders are cutting hills. These syndicates reportedly operate both day and night, targeting locations such as Telina Madhyapara, Ajagana, Gorai, Nazirpara, Palpara, Cadet College area, Saidpur, Mahishbathan, Sitmamudpur, Takiakadma, Hatubhanga, Morichala, Baliarjan, Bashkhola and Pekua, among others. An estimated 20–25 hill sites have been severely damaged by red soil extraction.
In addition to Mirzapur, red soil is being removed from nearby upazilas such as Kalihati, Sakhipur and Ghatail and transported to Mirzapur by dump trucks. With the end of the monsoon and the start of the dry season, illegal soil and sand extraction has intensified across agricultural lands, riverbanks, canals and wetlands in areas including Fatepur, Thalpara, Chakleswar, Gorai, Trimohan, Kodalia, Hatubhanga, Court Bhairab, Nazirpara, Gunitia, Majhalia, Anaitara, Banail, Bhatgram and Bhaura.
A section of soil traders is also excavating soil from farmlands, roadsides, residential areas and riverbeds day and night, earning lakhs of taka. Locals allege that those who protest face intimidation, threats and false cases. Some residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that traders thumb their nose at government officials and law enforcers.
Union Parishad chairmen stated that influential soil traders are causing damage to homes, croplands and roads by illegally extracting red soil, sand and earth from hills. They expressed hope that the administration would take swift and effective action in this regard.
Forest Department officials, including Bashhtoil Range Officer Md Shahinul Islam and Ajagana Beat Officer Md Sirajul Islam Siraj, said regular monitoring is being conducted to protect the hills. However, they acknowledged that soil thieves often operate under the cover of darkness and use different strategies to steal soil from hill-adjacent private lands, posing a serious threat to biodiversity and the environment. They urged the residents to inform the local administration of illegal soil cutting so that legal action can be taken against them.
Mirzapur Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tarique Aziz said the administration is actively working to protect the hills and take action against those involved in illegal soil extraction. Mobile courts have been conducted, leading to the seizure of dump trucks and soil-cutting equipment. In recent drives, they have fined soil lifters nearly Tk 6 lakh, he said, adding that such drives will continue.
