Uncontrolled stone extraction with bomb machines in Tentulia: Natural resources are being looted in front of the administration's eyes!

A terrible festival of environmental destruction is underway in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh. Stone is being extracted freely with bomb machines (dredges) in the dark of night in this town full of natural beauty. Despite multiple raids by the administration, police and BGB, this illegal activity has not stopped.

A bomb machine or dredger is a type of powerful excavation machine, which extracts stones by pulling water and sand deep in the ground. The use of this machine creates deep holes or voids inside the land, which increases the risk of soil collapse. Along with the lowering of the groundwater level, there is a risk of earthquakes. According to environmentalists, if mineral extraction continues in this way, the natural balance of Panchagarh will eventually be destroyed.

A field visit showed that more than 50 bomb machines are being used to extract stones in at least 20 villages in different unions of Tentulia. These machines have been installed in areas such as Moynaguri, Pathanpara, Kaylamoni, Shibchandi in Debangarh Union; Ganagach, Kirtanpara, Bhangipara, Khuniagach in Bhajanpur Union; Dahuk River bank areas in Buraburi Union; Sanu Balabari in Shalbahan Union and Borabillah, Majhipara in Sadar Union.

These machines have been installed not only in rivers or khas land, but also in cropland, fish enclosures, and even in forest department land. People guard the lifters at each location. When they sense the presence of an administration vehicle or patrol team, they warn the owners in advance and stop the machines.

Locals say that the administration has been given a list of names of these illegal machines and traders for a long time. A human chain has already been held under the banner of the locally formed 'Land Rights Protection Committee'. Ordinary farmers are spending their days in fear of landslides, water shortages, and destruction of cropland.

Former upazila chairman and stone workers' leader Muktarul Haque Muku said that these bomb machines are running freely under the umbrella of local political leaders. He said, "These machines are running openly under the shadow of party leaders in the dark of night. The role of the administration is questionable."

An anonymous owner of several bomb machines said that people's representatives, police and local influential people have to manage to run a machine every night. They have to pay about 4,000 taka for each machine through a broker.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tentulia Police Station Musa Mia said that the police patrol every night, but after getting information in advance, the gang shut down the machines and fled. Although there were several cases, the accused started the same thing again after getting bail.

Tentulia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Afroz Shahin Khasru said, we are working to create public awareness. Many machines have been seized and cases have been filed. But effective prevention is not possible due to lack of cooperation from all sections of society.

Deputy Commissioner Sabet Ali said that several meetings have been held to warn against illegal stone extraction. He assured that stricter measures will be taken in the future.

Commander of 18 BGB Battalion Lt. Col. Monirul Islam said that the BGB has already worked to stop the dredger machine. If necessary, a larger operation will be carried out.

President of the District Environment Council and Head of the Geography Department Touhidul Bari said that if this continues, the people of Panchagarh will soon have to pay a heavy price. He urged everyone to stand against this game of destroying nature in the name of stone extraction.

Khademul Islam/MNP