Kushtia District Correspondent: According to the Sand and Soil Management (Amendment) Act 2023, the extraction of soil or sand from fertile agricultural land, environmentally sensitive areas, or for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. Violation of the law can result in up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 200,000 taka. Soil can only be removed in limited quantities with permission from the local administration, and doing so in a way that harms agriculture or the environment is punishable.

Despite this law, the situation is different in Char Mahendrapur area of Jagannathpur Union in Kushtia’s Kumarkhali Upazila. For over a month, a group has been publicly cutting and selling soil and sand from farmland. Locals allege that the operation is being led by Jagannathpur Union Parishad chairman and former Awami League leader Abdullah Al Baki Badsha, along with senior BNP vice-president of the union, Abdur Rashid Mondal, who are related by marriage.

According to residents and workers, the group is illegally extracting soil and sand from privately owned land and selling it daily to brick kilns and other places, earning thousands of taka each day. Despite the ongoing activity for more than a month, no action has been taken by authorities. Thousands of acres of farmland in the char area are at risk, and rural roads have been damaged.

The chairman denies the allegations, claiming that BNP leaders are using their influence to extract and sell soil and sand. BNP leader Abdur Rashid Mondal, however, admits to the soil extraction.

On Sunday afternoon (February 1), a field visit revealed that Char Mahendrapur village lies along the Padma River, with waterlogged land in the area. A road has been built along the embankment near West Para Jame Mosque. Farmers cultivate various crops, including bananas, mustard, wheat, onions, and other vegetables. In some parts, soil and sand are being dug with mechanized equipment and transported by tractors, trucks, and small engines to different locations, causing damage to rural roads.

During the visit, Jagannathpur Union Parishad chairman Abdullah Al Baki Badsha said he had gone to inspect his farmland. He claimed that soil and sand are being cut by Union Awami League leaders, including General Secretary Ayub Ali, Ward 4 member Faruk Hossain, BNP leader Rashid Mondal, and others.

Several workers, speaking anonymously, said, “This is private land. For about a month, Chairman Badsha, his son Mehedi Hasan, and relative Rashid Mondal have been cutting soil and sand and selling it to brick kilns and other places.” They said several hundred truckloads of soil and sand are sold daily at varying prices.

An anonymous farmer stated that despite diverse crop cultivation on the char, Badsha and Rashid Mondal are extracting soil and sand through their workers, threatening other farmers and farmland, damaging roads, and disrupting daily life. He demanded that soil extraction be stopped immediately. He added that soil and sand from one bigha of land is being sold for 100,000 to 150,000 taka.

Union Awami League General Secretary Ayub Ali denied involvement, saying the chairman, his son Mehedi, and their associates are extracting the soil, and he only rented out the mechanized equipment.

BNP senior vice-president Abdur Rashid Mondal admitted to soil extraction, saying it is from his own land and sold to brick kilns. He claimed that soil extraction has been agreed at 60,000–70,000 taka per bigha for 30 bighas and that he has been doing this for 2–3 years. He insisted that rainwater replenishes the land and that nothing illegal is occurring.

Upazila Executive Officer Farzana Akhtar said there is no room for illegal soil or sand extraction in Char Mahendrapur or elsewhere. Regular raids, fines, and legal actions are ongoing, and measures will be taken promptly.