Illegal sand lifting makes Moulvibazar dam vulnerable
Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar
The Moulvibazar town flood protection embankment has become vulnerable as a portion of it has been cut at Barhat point to carry illegally lifted sand from Monu riverbed. A local BNP leader is lifting the sand indiscriminately and doing brisk business by selling those, they said. The illegal sand lifting and removal of soil from the embankment will accentuate flooding and erosion in the coming monsoon, locals told this correspondent. They allegad that the BNP leader cut the flood protection embankment to create passage for tracks to carry sand. The district town will also be threatened with flood if the embankment is not repaired before the monsoon, locals said. They alleged that they protested while the embankment was being cut but it was ignored by the BNP leader. Moulvibazar office of Water Development Board (WDB) was also informed, but to no effect, they claimed. Moulvibazar WDB Executive Engineer Sharafat Hussain Khan said action will be taken against the person if the flood protection embankment is damaged. Some WDB sources and local people alleged that a section of officials are involved with the BNP leader in the illegal sand lifting. When contacted, the BNP leader claimed that he is lifting sand after taking permission from the authorities. He however denied that the flood protection embankment was damaged.
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