The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Illegal excavations and collection of one-lakh cubic feet sands per day from Kirtonkhola River going on rampantly in front of the authorities endangering Barisal River port and speeding river erosions.

After visiting the spot it was found that every day private dredgers SD Moni collecting 30 thousand cubic feet sands at Dapdapia point, SD South Bengal collecting 30 thousand cubic feet sands at Beltala point and SD Al-Qayed collecting 40 thousand cubic feet sands at CharAbdani point of Kirtonkhola.

Notorious terrorist and ward commissioner Firoz Mia, Yunus Mia and Karim Mia, owner of those sand collection dredgers claimed that they have proper permission from Barisal port authority and district administration for sand collection by dredging Kirtonkhola River by private initiatives to made it navigable round the year.

However, Barisal port authority said that they have not permitted any operation for sand collection from Kirtonkhola River and any unplanned dredging not only endanger smooth navigation at Barisal Port, but also make river erosion speedier.

District administration sources said they gave permission for sand collection in certain fixed locations on condition of getting clearance from directorate of environment and port authority.

Kawsar Ahmed, deputy director of environment directorate Barisal office, also said port or district administrations have no right to allow sand collection by dredging river without getting clearance from environment directorate.

The present operations of sand collections were illegal, as they do not have any permission or clearance from environment directorate, he added. Sources said that after one-eleven joint forces arrested terrorist ward commissioner Firoz Miafor illegal sand collection . After getting bail from higher court, he again engaged in his mischievous acts.