The massive profits coupled with a weak legal framework have drawn influential individuals with political connections into the sand mining business, making it dangerous for environmental activists and journalists to speak out.

A legal notice has been served on five government offices in Bangladesh, demanding immediate action against rampant illegal sand extraction along a 20-kilometer stretch of the Meghna River in Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria on Wednesday. The notice, sent by Supreme Court lawyer Iftekhar Ahmed on behalf of two local residents, highlights the severe environmental threats and socio-economic risks posed by these unchecked activities.

The affected stretch of the Meghna, a vital waterway, has become a hotspot for grabbers who have long been extracting sand without proper authorization. This illegal mining is not only accelerating riverbank erosion but also jeopardizing the livelihoods of an estimated 100,000 people across 16 villages, including Rajapur, Pakshimul, Chunta, Panishwar, and Dubajaile. Homes, agricultural lands, schools, bridges, and embankments are all under threat from the shifting landscape caused by excessive sand removal.

Barrister Iftekhar Ahmed confirmed to The Daily Star that the notice was dispatched to the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the deputy commissioner of Brahmanbaria, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Sarail, and the chairman of Aruail Union Parishad. “We have urged the authorities to take immediate action against the illegal sand extraction under the Balumahal and Soil Management Act,” said Ahmed. “If no steps are taken, legal action will be pursued.”

The issue of illegal sand mining is a widespread problem across Bangladesh, fueled by the booming construction industry’s insatiable demand for sand. Activists estimate that a staggering 60-70% of the sand mined in the country is extracted illegally, with little to no consideration for environmental or hydrological impacts. This unregulated mining is severely degrading river ecosystems, destroying biodiversity, and escalating the risk of devastating river erosion.

Md Mosharraf Hossain, the Sarail UNO, acknowledged the problem, stating that inadequate river dredging leads to silt accumulation, forming shoals and ultimately causing erosion. He noted that while sand extractors have a lease for an 11-acre area at Dubajaile village, they are allegedly expanding their operations into adjacent, unleased areas. “We are going to the scene to witness the matter,” he stated, adding that dredging through the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has been initiated in the area following a survey. He also hinted at disputes between the involved parties and a rival group as a reason for the current objections.

Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md Didarul Alam assured that an investigation would be launched to ascertain any irregularities in the sand extraction process.

A Flawed Law and Lax Enforcement

Despite a 2010 law, the Quarry and Soil Management Act, designed to regulate sand mining, critics contend that it has, ironically, enabled the illegal industry to flourish. This is attributed to weak punishment, lax enforcement, and the significant involvement of politically connected individuals in the business.

Bangladesh’s economic growth over the past three decades has spurred urban and rural development, leading to a huge demand for construction materials. The country’s 57 transboundary rivers, carrying an estimated 2.4 billion metric tons of sediment annually, provide a readily available source of sand. A significant portion of this extracted sand is used for landfill to reclaim new land, often by filling in canals and drains, which in turn obstructs monsoon runoff and exacerbates flooding.

Maminul Haque Sarker, senior adviser on river, delta and coastal morphology at the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), emphasizes the critical link between unplanned sand mining and river erosion. “Extreme mining of sand causes the degradation of rivers and their channels. The mining process creates holes in the bed, which leads to riverbank erosion,” he explained. CEGIS data for 2019 and 2020 illustrates the alarming rate of land loss due to erosion by major rivers like the Brahmaputra and Ganges (Padma), with thousands of hectares of arable land, roads, and infrastructure being swallowed.

Environmental activists and lawyers, including Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), point to significant loopholes in the Quarry and Soil Management Act. The law permits local governments to declare “sand quarries” without clear criteria and, unlike in neighboring India, does not mandate an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before extraction. “We have a very weak legal framework and even this weak legal framework is not implemented,” Rizwana stated, highlighting the influence of politically connected players who exploit these weaknesses. BELA has filed over 300 lawsuits against illegal mining, but convictions often result in minor fines, offering little deterrence.

Out of Control: The Dark Side of Sand Mining

The massive profits coupled with a weak legal framework have drawn influential individuals with political connections into the sand mining business, making it dangerous for environmental activists and journalists to speak out. Reports of physical assaults on local government officials and journalists investigating illegal mining are not uncommon. A fabricated lawsuit even led to the detention of three individuals in 2012, according to the Asian Human Rights Commission.

Further underscoring the severity of the crisis, a gang of influential men from Mirzachar area of Raipura upazila in Narsingdi has allegedly been illegally extracting and selling vast quantities of sand from the Meghna River for the past 25 days. Locals anonymously reported that this unlicensed operation extracts an estimated 600,000 cubic feet of sand daily, valued at Tk 1.5 million, with allegations of local administration collusion. This unchecked dredging is causing significant erosion in nearby villages like Charlapang, Sahebnagar, Nasirabad, Mirzachar, and Shantipur.

Noore Alam, Chairman of Nabinagar West Union Parishad, expressed grave concern over the erosion impacting agricultural land and homes in Charlapang, noting that despite reporting to the Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land), he found him “reluctant about the matter.”

Meanwhile, Munshi Enterprises, a legitimate company with a lease for sand mining in Dhoravanga Natul char and Balimohol of Jaftabar, is also being impacted by the illegal operations. Nabir Hossain of Munshi Enterprises stated that the illegal gang from Raipura is diverting their customers, threatening their ability to recover their lease investment.

Nabinagar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Abu Musa declined to comment on the matter. However, Brahmanbaria Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Jasmine Sultana affirmed that no one has the right to extract sand outside their leased area. She assured that mobile courts are regularly conducted to prevent illegal extraction, seize dredgers, and impose fines, with plans for larger-scale operations in the near future.

An official of the environment ministry said, “The ongoing legal notice and the public outcry underscore the urgent need for a more robust and enforced regulatory framework to protect Bangladesh’s vital river systems and the communities dependent on them.”