Sharif Jamil, the Central Member Secretary of“Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA)” and the Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, conducted an on-site visit to observe illegal sand extraction and river erosion along the Kushiyara River in the Paharpur area of Nabiganj upazila, Habiganj.
On Friday (April 4), he was accompanied by Surma River Waterkeeper and Member Secretary of DHORA-Sylhet Abdul Karim Chowdhury Kim, Khowai River Waterkeeper and Member Secretary of DHORA-Habiganj Tofazzal Sohel, along with other environmental activists.
During the visit, Sharif Jamil said, “Illegal sand mining has put the Kushiyara River at severe risk of erosion. Residents along the riverbanks are living in fear of losing their homes.” He added, “On one side there is unregulated sand mining, and on the other, multi-million taka block projects under the guise of erosion control. This is essentially project profiteering.”
Local residents complained that there is no transparency about the volume, method, or conditions of the sand extraction. Sand is being dredged day and night using heavy machinery. Influential political agents are reportedly intimidating locals with threats and lawsuits to keep them silent.
Environmentalists expressed deep concern over the ongoing Kushiyara River Embankment Project worth approximately BDT 573 crore. Without proper river dredging or management, they see the project as a strategy for misappropriating public funds.
Following the visit, Sharif Jamil stated, “None of these projects involved public consultation. If the administration fails to take immediate action to stop illegal sand extraction, a catastrophic disaster awaits the communities along the Kushiyara River.”
The environmental activists have urged prompt and effective intervention from the authorities.
