Soil from the banks of the Meghna in Kamalnagar is going to the brick kiln!
Lakshmipur: Soil from the banks of the Meghna River in Kamalnagar, Lakshmipur, is being used to make bricks. An unscrupulous group is cutting the river bank and supplying soil to various brick kilns in the district. Soil from the banks of the Meghna River is being cut every morning and evening.
This is threatening a large area with increased river erosion. The newly built Meghna riverbank protection dam may be damaged. In such a situation, anger has spread among the locals.
A field visit to the Nabiganj area of Char Kalkini Union of the upazila revealed that about fifty workers were cutting soil along the river bank and loading 10/12 tractor trolleys with it. Locals said that the soil has been continuously being cut in this way for the past few days.
It has been learned that several brick kiln owners in Kamalnagar and Lakshmipur Sadar Upazilas are using brokers to lure local landowners to sell their land. The brokers are grabbing land on the river banks for a nominal fee, spreading fear that the land will collapse due to river erosion.
Locals say that Kamalnagar is an area affected by river erosion. Dam work is underway on one side of the river bank; on the other side, the bank is being cut and soil is being taken for brick kilns. This poses a serious threat to the area and the bank protection dam.
Some locals, who did not wish to be named, said that soil is being cut from just two kilometers north of the riverbank protection dam, which is why river erosion continues even in the dry season.
Saif Ullah, chairman of the local Char Kalkini Union, said, "No one can change the land class by cutting soil at will. We will be proactive to ensure that no one can cut soil from the river bank."
Kamalnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Akul Chandra Biswas said that after receiving information about the cutting of soil, the police went to the spot and stopped the work. The landowner and the brick kiln owner have been asked to come to the police station.
Kamalnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Nasir Uddin Sarwar said, "We are asking the local land officer to go to the spot in this regard. Necessary measures will be taken after investigating the matter."