Bogra farmers protest demanding protection of croplands from illegal sand lifting

Locals, consisting mostly of farmers, organized a human chain protesting illegal sand lifting from the Krakatoa River which is damaging their croplands in Sadar upazila of Bogra.

Protesters formed the human chain at Satmatha point in the town at 12pm on Sunday.

Speakers at the program said that sand traders aided by an influential NGO TMSS Foundation have long been lifting sand illegally from the Krakatoa River near Baruipara, Namapara, Jangulepara, Baolapara and Bonomalipara villages under Shakharia union.

The sand lifting, which takes place every day from dusk till dawn with a number of dredger machines, has caused river erosion with much of the villages' cropland lost to the river already, they said.

The Eidgah in the locality is now under threat of being lost to the river while the cremation ground of the local Hindu community has already been eroded, they also said.

The villagers also said that the sand trader had threatened them when they protested against the illegal sand lifting.

Contacted, Bogra Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Azizur Rahman said the local authorities received complaints in this regard and necessary steps will be taken.