A vested group has long been illegally extracting sand from Sangu river in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila amid a lack of adequate monitoring from local authorities, alleged locals.

The sound of dredgers extracting sand from the river, bulkhead vessels bringing sand to the riverbank to be pumped and stockpiled ashore, and trucks carrying the sand almost every night has become a part of daily life for the past several years, said Mohammed Bakhtiar, a resident along the riverbank in South Isakhali.

What is happening in South Isakhali is not an isolated incident.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found sand stockpiled at several locations, including Bainnar Dighi, South Isakhali, Godarpar, Bhararchar and Kanu Majhir Haat. Trucks were seen loading sand at some sites, while others appeared deserted during the daytime.

According to the Anwara upazila administration, there is no authorised balu mahal (sand quarry) anywhere in the Sangu.

Locals alleged that the administration usually conducts drives during the day, but sand extraction activities occur mostly at night. By the time officials arrive, the dredgers and bulkhead vessels are gone. Officials occasionally seize a small amount of sand or fine a few people, and then leave, only for the sand lifting to resume the same night or the next day.

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At Godarpar, a truck driver said around 40-50 truckloads of sand leave the area daily.

Contacted, Jahedul Islam, who owns one of the sand stockpiles in South Isakhali, denied extracting sand from the river. “I buy sand from Satkania, bring it here through river, stockpile and sell it from here,” he claimed.

Dr Manzurul Kibria, vice-chancellor of BGC Trust University and a river expert, said, “Removing sand from the river speeds up erosion, damages aquatic habitats and threatens biodiversity. Once a river’s natural balance is disturbed, it is extremely difficult to restore it.”

Extracting sand from a river without government approval is an offence. The Sand Quarry and Soil Management Rules also require extracted sand to be stockpiled only at sites approved by the District Sand Quarry Management Committee.

Anwara UNO Md Mohin Uddin said no permission has been given for sand extraction or stockpiling anywhere in Anwara.

He said at least five mobile court drives had been conducted against illegal sand extraction since April 8.

Asked about the sand stockpiled along the Sangu, the UNO said it might have been brought from elsewhere. “We would investigate the matter and take legal action,” he added.