Sand lifters enjoying political clout are doing a brisk business while the government is being deprived of revenue due to the illegal sand lifting.

Several groups of unscrupulous sand traders are lifting sand by dredging Meghna river beds near Ashugonj (North), Ashuganj (West), Kederkhola, Bancharampur and Daskandi areas and Titas beds in West Uzanishar, Rajabariakandi, Gukarna Ghat, Chandura and Bancharampur. The two rivers flow through the district.

The lifters are informing the local people that they have permission of high authority to lift the sands from the riverbeds.

Most of the sand traders use mechanised dredgers and dredge the river beds in an unplanned way. This will aggravate erosion and cause flood in the rainy season, locals in the areas told this correspondent. Locals said they protested the illegal activity but to no effect as most of the sand lifters are locally influential and have links with major political parties. At Shahbajpur point, a dredger is in operation in Titas river for more than one year.

The sand lifters tell locals that they obtained permission from authorities but the district administration said they did not give permission to any of the sand lifters.

They dredge the river beds up to 100 metres or more, locals said at Shahbajpur, Rajabaria Kandi, Budhumti, Islampur, and Chandura areas in Sarail and Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila. Such unplanned dredging will cause erosion of river banks and floods, they said.

It was gathered that one company lifted about one corer cubic feet sand at Shahbajpur with out paying any revenue to the government. On information, a team from the Deputy Commissioner's office went to the spot and collected Tk 20,00,000.00 as revenue from the party.

Last year, some sand lifters lifted sand and soil from Kaderkhula, Daskandi, Bancharampur and Ashuganj points of Megahan river. On information, Nabinagar Upazila and Brahmanbaria district administrations stopped the unauthorised dredging there.

But the illegal sand lifting from Meghna river beds was started again at several points between Brahmanbaria and Narsigdi districts.

When officials from Brahmanbaria district administration rushes to the spot, the sand lifters shifted their dredgers to Naringdi district areas and came back again.

At Charlapang vailage in Nabinagar upazila, Megnha erosion devoured at least 20 houses and 100 trees as its bank weakened and collapsed due to dredging of its bed, said Md. Gulam Kibria, chairman of West Nabinagar Union Parishad.

Some locals including Sadekur Rahman and Ashraful Karim told this correspondent that they lodged complaints with the district administration but the illegal sand lifting continues.

The sand lifters have created several huge dumping points along the river banks. This correspondent during a visit saw sands piled up at several points including Ashuganj Meghan Ghat, Shalgong Ghat, Kalishima Ghat, Titas Ghat and Kurulia.

Sub-divisional Engineer of Brahmanbaria Water Development Board said they have no plan to dredge the river in Brahmanbaria area. When asked, he said he does not know who allowed the sand lifters to lift sand from the river beds. Sources at the Deputy Commissioner's office said giving permission for sand lifting is stopped.

There are six spots for sand lifting. These are Lohor Nadi Balumahal (sand field in the river bed), Dharkhar Mauja Titas Nadi Balumahal, Chinai

Nadi Balumahal, Haura Nadi Balumahal, Bijoy Nadi Balumahal and 'Bijani Nadi Balumahal. These spots were not leased to any one, the sources said.

They said they received several complaints from villagers against sand lifting.

It is learnt that last year, all Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) under the order of Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria submitted a report about the situations of lifting send of the respective areas of the district.

When contacted, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Sayed Ahmed Safa said he took over few days back and knew about illegal sand lifting. He said steps will be taken soon to stop illegal sand lifting.