Police detained two men and seized a sand-laden boat during an anti-illegal mining drive in Sunamganj’s Dhopajan River, highlighting growing environmental damage caused by unlawful sand extraction.
Police detained two men and seized a large engine-driven wooden boat loaded with sand during a drive against illegal sand mining in the Dhopajan River in northeastern Bangladesh on Tuesday morning.
The drive was carried out based on a tip-off by a team from Sunamganj Sadar Model Police Station led by Sub-Inspector Nuruzzaman.
The detainees were identified as Md. Akram Ali, 45, son of the late Mirash Ali, and Md. Al Amin, 40, son of the late Manik Mia. Both are residents of Majhertek village under Bishwambharpur upazila in Sunamganj district.
Officer-in-Charge Ratan Sheikh said police caught them while they were illegally extracting sand from the river and seized the sand-laden boat from the spot.
“A case has been filed with the police station in this connection,” he added.
Illegal sand mining has become a growing environmental concern in several river areas across Bangladesh, contributing to riverbank erosion, ecosystem damage and risks to nearby communities.
