Prison sentence, tractor seized and excavator rendered useless in Daganbhuiyan soil cutting operation at night

Despite the severe cold, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shahidul Alam is conducting a campaign until midnight in Daganbhuiyan, Feni. In the campaign to prevent top soil cutting of cropland, a campaign was conducted from 11 pm to 2 am on Monday (January 5) in various places in Rajapur, Sindurpur and Ramnagar unions of Daganbhuiyan upazila. During this, 4 tractors involved in soil transportation were seized and 2 excavators were rendered useless as it was not possible to bring them. Instructions have been given to the concerned ULAOs to list those involved in soil cutting. 1 smart team of Ansar members provided assistance as a supporting force in the campaign.

According to the mobile court, on December 15, 2025, from 11 pm to 2.20 am, a person was sentenced to one month's imprisonment and an excavator was made useless in various places of Sindurpur Union for the crime of cutting soil from cropland. On December 21, two people were arrested in a raid at Ward No. 1 Sridharpur in Daganbhuiyan Municipality and sentenced to one month's imprisonment and an excavator was made useless. On December 26, at 12 am, a truck driver was arrested at Ward No. 3 Betua in the municipality and a fine of Tk 50,000 was collected from a person arrested under the relevant section of the Balumahal and Soil Management Act, 2010. On December 29, from 10:30 pm to 2:30 am, a person was arrested in a raid at a place called Satyapur in Gazaria and Sindurpur Union of the municipality and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, 2 tractors were seized and 2 excavators used for cutting soil were rendered useless under the relevant section. On January 3 this year, from 10:30 pm to 2:30 am, a person named Abdul Mannan Sohel (34) was arrested for cutting soil at a place called Bagdubi Bazar in South Alipur, Sadar Union and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, 2 tractors used for cutting soil were seized and an excavator was rendered useless under the relevant section.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shahidul Alam said that the raid will continue even in the middle of the night for the crime of destroying topsoil of cropland and cutting soil of agricultural land.

Meanwhile, soil is being removed from the side of the Daganbhuiyan Tulatuli Bazar, Yakubpur Union, Karmullahpur Enayet Bhuiyan Eidgah ground to the brickfield.

Locals have said that three vekus of soil are being removed from the Ramnagar point at night to the brick kiln. The issue of soil removal is largely managed in a chain of systems. Here, the soil reaches the brick kiln on a contract basis through a few changes of hands. News of the operation has reached one place to another. Immediately, soil removal, tractors and excavators were stopped. This is a huge syndicate, said a person involved in soil removal who did not want to be named.

The victims and the conscious people have expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the operation that was carried out from night to late at night, ignoring the fog and cold due to the cold wave in January. As a result of this operation, the topsoil of agricultural lands is being protected, while the target in agricultural production will be met, the Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension has said.