Illegal sand mining threatens roads, bridges in Tangail

Illegal sand mining from Bonsai and Louhajang rivers under Mirzapur Upazila of Tangail district poses a threat to 15 bridges and 20 zonal roads connected to the Dhaka-Tangail highway. The sand is being sold to contractors of the Dhaka-Bangabandhu Bridge highway four lane development work and some other places. It is learned that sand smugglers have installed dredgers and ‘veku’ in the said rivers and are carrying away sand worth crores of taka using drum trucks. Besides resulting in a loss of revenue for the government, it has also taken a toll on the roads and bridges. Gorai-Sakhipur road, Pekua-Patharghata road, Sohagpara-Kodalia, Derua-Baimail, Dewhata-Bohuria, Kumarjani Jugirkopa, Dewhata-Kodalia, Bonsai-Godail, Mirzapur-Bhargram, Kurni-Fatehpur, Kodimdholla-Borati, Kodimdholla-Mohera, Katra- Fulki, Pakulla-Delduwar were constructed by the Roads and Highway Department, Local Government and the Engineering Department. These roads are meant for light vehicles and not trucks carrying heavy loads. Besides damaging the roads, these heavy trucks have also weakened Gunutia Bridge, Chukuria Bridge, Bhorra Bridge, Kodimdhalla Bridge, Agdholla Bridge, Kurni Bridge, Hatubangha Bridge, Postokumari Bridge and Bohonpur Bridge. It is alleged that certain vested quarters, in league with police and dishonest employees of the Land Office, are behind this operation. When contacted, employees of AC (Land) Office of Mirzapur denied the allegation. AC (Land) Nadira Akhter said that they have lodged 12 cases to date and imposed fines worth about Tk 9 lakh.

Illegal sand mining threatens roads, bridges in Tangail

Illegal sand mining from Bonsai and Louhajang rivers under Mirzapur Upazila of Tangail district poses a threat to 15 bridges and 20 zonal roads connected to the Dhaka-Tangail highway. The sand is being sold to contractors of the Dhaka-Bangabandhu Bridge highway four lane development work and some other places. It is learned that sand smugglers have installed dredgers and veku in the said rivers and are carrying away sand worth crores of taka using drum trucks. Besides resulting in a loss of revenue for the government, it has also taken a toll on the roads and bridges. Gorai-Sakhipur road, Pekua-Patharghata road, Sohagpara-Kodalia, Derua-Baimail, Dewhata-Bohuria, Kumarjani Jugirkopa, Dewhata-Kodalia, Bonsai-Godail, Mirzapur-Bhargram, Kurni-Fatehpur, Kodimdholla-Borati, Kodimdholla-Mohera, Katra- Fulki, Pakulla-Delduwar were constructed by the Roads and Highway Department, Local Government and the Engineering Department. These roads are meant for light vehicles and not trucks carrying heavy loads. Besides damaging the roads, these heavy trucks have also weakened Gunutia Bridge, Chukuria Bridge, Bhorra Bridge, Kodimdhalla Bridge, Agdholla Bridge, Kurni Bridge, Hatubangha Bridge, Postokumari Bridge and Bohonpur Bridge. It is alleged that certain vested quarters, in league with police and dishonest employees of the Land Office, are behind this operation. When contacted, employees of AC (Land) Office of Mirzapur denied the allegation. AC (Land) Nadira Akhter said that they have lodged 12 cases to date and imposed fines worth about Tk 9 lakh.