Illegal sand extraction using dredgers continues at several points along the Teesta river in Lalmonirhat despite repeated enforcement drives.

Locals allege that the practice is accelerating riverbank erosion and threatening cropland, homesteads and infrastructure.

The Lalmonirhat district administration recently conducted a drive, led by executive magistrates Parvez Khan and Mamunur Rashid, in the Votmari area of Kaliganj upazila, seizing a dredger and several pipelines allegedly used to illegally extract sand from the river.

The pipelines were destroyed on the spot, while the dredger was taken to the local police station.

Nazrul Ali, 60, a farmer from Votmari village, alleged that a syndicate had been extracting sand illegally from the Teesta with dredgers, operating day and night for the past two months.

“The illegal sand extraction has already caused erosion along the riverbank, washing away cropland and putting many homesteads at risk,” he said.

“The mobile court has seized the dredger, so sand extraction has stopped for now. But they may resume the operation within a few days,” he added.

Zahir Ali, 55, a farmer from Rajpur village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, alleged that operators often remove dredgers during the day but resume sand extraction at night.

“Large pits have been formed in the riverbed, accelerating riverbank erosion,” he added.

He further alleged that two brothers, both students of Lalmonirhat Cantonment Public School and College, drowned in one such pit about two months ago.

Moksed Ali, 48, a farmer from Sindurna village in Hatibandha upazila, alleged that the culprits are politically influential and have a reputation for intimidation, so no one dares to speak out against them openly.

Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat, said sand extraction generally does not cause significant damage if carried out 400-500 metres away from the riverbank.

“However, extracting sand only 20-30 metres from the bank creates large pits that generate whirlpool-like currents which strike the riverbank directly, accelerating erosion,” he said, adding that illegal sand extraction from the Teesta had become a lucrative business for some people.

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Md Rashedul Hoque Prodhan said a zero-tolerance policy against illegal sand extraction was in place.

“Whenever we receive information, we immediately conduct mobile court drives. However, if no one is found at the site during the raids, it becomes difficult to file cases. We therefore seize and destroy the equipment,” he said.

“We are raising public awareness in this regard,” he added.