Home ›› 07 Nov 2021 ›› Nation
A brazen soil lifting under the very nose of the authorities concerned poses risk to the Barishal city protection embankment.
As the water level in Kirtankhola has began to decrease at the beginning of dry season, the blocks of Barishal city protection embankment on the river are being illegally removed while soil is being lifted in the dark of night and sold to brick kilns.
Some of brick kiln owners are involved with the illegal business.
Although the matter is now public, no action is being taken by the Barishal City Corporation (BCC), said local sources.
Md Sujan, a resident of Barishal city ward number 24 in Jianagar area, said: “Recently I went to throw a net in the river after Fazr prayer when he saw a group of people lift the block of city protection embankment on the bank of Kirtankhola river and cut soil.”
“Later they took the lumps of soil to their boat which will be sold to the brick field.”
Visiting the spot, it was seen that from Dapadapiya bridge on the edge of Kirtankhola to Trisha godown soil has been lifted from many places of the embankment.
According to locals, tidal water has started entering through multiple points from where soil has been lifted.
Abdul Wahab, a boatman in the area, said a group of people come and lift soil on to their boat before dawn.
Syed Sirajul Islam, owner of Mina Brick Kiln, denied the allegation.
He said he buys soil from several land owners in the area.
Habibur Rahman, a former manager of the Fuji Brick Kiln, also echoed the same as Sirajul.
The construction of the embankment has been suspended for several years following a writ petition filed by environmental lawyer Manzil Morsed in 2016, alleging that a part of the river fell into the embankment.
Dipak Ranjan Das, chief engineer of the Water Development Board in Barishal, said he will investigate into the matter.
BCC Chief Executive Officer Syed Md Faruk said, “I don’t know about it. If the incident is true, steps will be taken.”
