Residents of four villages in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway for an hour on Saturday, protesting the illegal sand extraction from the Meghna River and its threat to nearby farmland and settlements.
Residents of Durgapur, Bahadurpur, Sohagpur and Tajpur blocked the highway by burning tyres at Bahadurpur from 11am to noon, triggering a five-kilometre traffic tailback and causing significant suffering for commuters and long-distance passengers.
The protesters alleged that sand is being extracted illegally from the Ashuganj section of the Meghna under the guise of a lease on the Bhairab side of Kishoreganj.
Rana Sikdar and Munabbir Billah, speaking on behalf of the protesters, said the large-scale extraction was accelerating river erosion and putting agricultural land in the surrounding villages at risk.
They also expressed concern over the possible disappearance of Sonampur, a centuries-old settlement that has emerged in the middle of the Meghna in Ashuganj.
The protesters claimed that local residents went to the river on Saturday to stop the sand extraction but were allegedly chased away by the extractors, some of whom were carrying weapons.
They subsequently formed a procession and blocked the highway, demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the illegal sand extraction.
Brahmanbaria reserved women’s seat MP Nadia Pathan Papon joined the protesters and expressed solidarity with their demands. She said she had spoken with the deputy commissioner and received assurances that sand extraction would be stopped within two days.
Papon also said that if anyone affiliated with the BNP was found involved in illegal sand extraction, action would be taken against them.
Following assurances from the authorities, the protesters withdrew the blockade at noon.
Ashuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Jamal Hossain, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kazi Rabius Sarwar and Ashuganj police station Officer-in-Charge AKM Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury were present at the scene.
The officials assured the protesters that necessary action would be taken against illegal sand extraction.
Meanwhile, the highway blockade caused a five-kilometre-long traffic congestion stretching from Sohagpur bus stand to Bertala bus stand, leaving thousands of passengers and local commuters stranded.
