Despite the High Court order, a group of unscrupulous sand traders continue to run their businesses illegally on the river banks, threatening the survival of the rivers. Most of the rivers have been filled up by the sand traders. Environmentalists and residents allege that sand trade is continuing in full swing ignoring the court order. Sand-laden trucks, parked on either side of the road, can be seen leaving for destinations, following orders from customers who make a beeline to negotiate deals.
In November 2012, out of environmental and land-grabbing concerns, the HC directed the government to stop sand trading on the banks of the city rivers and their outskirts.
The court ordered the authorities to shut down the sand markets on Turag banks at Shinnirthek near Mirpur, and Shitalakhya at Kanchpur in Narayanganj, within three days.
The court also ordered the authorities to remove all sand from the river banks, within 15 days, and submit a compliance report within four weeks.
The HC also issued a rule asking the respondents as to why they should not be directed to stop all kinds of trading in sand at Kanchpur Bridge and Shinnirthek in Mirpur police station area, on the banks of the Shitalakhya and Turag, respectively.
It also wanted to know why the respondents should not be directed to protect the banks of the Shitalakhya and Turag rivers from land grabbers, and restrain them from engaging in the sand business on the river land.
Apart from the order, the HC, on June 25, 2009, had also directed the BIWTA to protect four rivers from encroachment and pollution—the Buriganga, the Turag, the Balu and the Shitalakhya—by demolishing the illegal establishments dotting their banks, and by evicting the occupants.
The Turag has almost been gobbled up by the encroachers and reduced to the state of a small canal. With the advent of the dry season, this is the fate that awaits it, unless the authorities check pollution and stop the business in chips, bricks and sands.
Hundreds of sand and brick traders are operating their illegal businesses, all the way from Gabtoli, Amin Bazar, Shinnirtek and Diabari to Ashulia on the bank of the Turag. These businesses penetrate deep into the river bank, reducing its flow and occupying even the areas demarcated by pillars, which mark the boundaries of the river banks.
Talking to The Independent, Jalil Miah Rahman, a boatman, informed that now sand trading was carried out at night.
The entire stretch from Mirpur Beribandh to Ashulia turned into a bustling sand market at night, he added.
During the day, he said, a visitor could see only cleaners and machine operators and but no sand traders, who appear on the scene only at night since the authorities started half-hearted drives.
Sand was brought from different parts of the country by trawlers throughout the day, and stocked on the river bank, said Rahim Miah, a shop owner at Mirpur Beribandh.
The transactions took place only at night, when consignments were sent to buyers by trucks, he said.
At least 20 sand traders ran their businesses in the area, with blessings from the police and local political leaders, he said.
Owing to the government’s lacklustre enforcement drive, sand trading was continuing in full swing, said Bangladesh Paribesh Andalan joint secretary, Sharif Jamil.
The authorities had no plan in place what to do with the seized sand, he said.
-With The Independent input
