Staff Reporter, Rangpur :
Local people of Purba Gilabari area at ward no 10 under Rangpur City Corporation formed a human chain in area on Friday demanding steps to stop illegal sand lifting from the Ghaghot river in the area.
Around two hundred people of Purba Gilabari area took in the human chain in the ground of a local Government primary school at around 11 am.
Later, a protest meeting was also held at the same venue. The speakers in the meeting demanded immediate measures to stop extraction of sand from the river, use of tractors and power tillers for its transport causing damage to nearby roads and embankment. They also said that due to frequent sand lifting from the river for a long time by a section of unscrupulous people a vast area of cultivable lands in the area is now facing the threat of erosion. During last few years many people of the area have lost their crop land and houses due to river erosion caused by rampant sand lifting, they also said.
The agitating people said that a group of sand traders had been lifting sand from Ghagot riverbed and taking away through tractor-trolley. They said that movement of tractors has already damaged roads near the river.
Locals also alleged that they have informed the concerned authorities of the matter but no step has been taken so far against the influential sand lifters.
They urged the authority concerned to take adequate steps to stop sand lifting from the river in their locality.
Among the locals Suja Mia, Ashiqur Rahman,Khademul Islam and Rokon addressed the protest meeting.
Local people of Purba Gilabari area at ward no 10 under Rangpur City Corporation formed a human chain in area on Friday demanding steps to stop illegal sand lifting from the Ghaghot river in the area.
Around two hundred people of Purba Gilabari area took in the human chain in the ground of a local Government primary school at around 11 am.
Later, a protest meeting was also held at the same venue. The speakers in the meeting demanded immediate measures to stop extraction of sand from the river, use of tractors and power tillers for its transport causing damage to nearby roads and embankment. They also said that due to frequent sand lifting from the river for a long time by a section of unscrupulous people a vast area of cultivable lands in the area is now facing the threat of erosion. During last few years many people of the area have lost their crop land and houses due to river erosion caused by rampant sand lifting, they also said.
The agitating people said that a group of sand traders had been lifting sand from Ghagot riverbed and taking away through tractor-trolley. They said that movement of tractors has already damaged roads near the river.
Locals also alleged that they have informed the concerned authorities of the matter but no step has been taken so far against the influential sand lifters.
They urged the authority concerned to take adequate steps to stop sand lifting from the river in their locality.
Among the locals Suja Mia, Ashiqur Rahman,Khademul Islam and Rokon addressed the protest meeting.
