A Harirampur Upazila Assistant Land Officer was taken hostage by sand pirates while conducting a mobile court to stop illegal sand mining in the Padma River in Dhulshura Union of Harirampur Upazila of Manikganj. He was later rescued after the intervention of the Dohar Upazila Assistant Land Officer. The incident took place on Tuesday evening on the border of the Padma River between Harirampur, Manikganj, and Dohar Upazila of Dhaka.
Harirampur Upazila Land Officer Tapsi Rabeya said that after receiving information about illegal sand extraction in the Padma in Dholshura Union of Harirampur Upazila, she went to the area on Tuesday afternoon to conduct a mobile court. At that time, three police members and an Ansar member were with her. After going to the spot, a bulkhead was seized for illegally extracting sand in the Padma. At that time, the sand extractors cleverly tied her speedboat to the bulkhead and took it to the borders of Dohar Upazila. Then, about 15 people came on behalf of the sand extractors in a speedboat. After a while, another 100 to 150 people came in a trawler. They forcibly took the speedboat carrying her towards Dohar. At that time, she informed the Manikganj Deputy Commissioner about the matter. When her speedboat reached Moinat Ghat in Dohar Upazila, Dohar Upazila Assistant Land Officer SM Mustafizur Rahman arrived at the spot. He handed over the seized bulkhead to the Doha Upazila Land Officer and returned to Harirampur by river.
Tapsi Rabeya further said that she went to conduct a mobile court against illegal sand mining in the Padma on the borders of Manikganj after seeing Google Maps. But sand pirates from Doha area were coming to the borders of Manikganj and mining sand. After investigating, she found out that her speedboat was taken hostage and taken to Doha area under the leadership of sand pirates Muttar and Shahid from Doha area. Although no legal action was taken regarding the matter, she informed her superiors.
Dohar Upazila Assistant Land Officer SM Mustafizur Rahman said that he was informed by Dohar UNO that Harirampur Assistant Land Officer Tapsi Rabeya was facing problems while conducting a mobile court to stop illegal sand mining in the Padma. On the instructions of the UNO, he went to Moinat Ghat in Dohar Upazila and found Tapsi Rabeya. After talking to the local people, arrangements were made for the officer to go to his home upazila. The seized bulkhead has been kept at Moinat Ghat. Action will be taken after the instructions of higher officials.
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