Soil from Kanail river, cropland sold to brick kilns in Chauddagram

Soil is being cut from the banks of the Kanail river and nearby cropland in Chauddagram upazila and sold to local brick kilns, residents allege. Despite repeated complaints, locals say enforcement has been weak.

The soil is reportedly being taken from the northern bank of the river near the Baraish–Nabagram bridge in Munshirhat union. Residents claim an organised group from Baraish village is involved and has long supplied soil from the river and adjacent farmland to at least five to six brick kilns, including Messrs Bhai Bhai Bricks.

Those accused by locals include Jamal Uddin, Badiul Alam, Md. Rana, Md. Faruk and Abdul Mannan of Baraish village. Jamal Uddin and Md. Emran have denied involvement.

Residents say soil is cut from the river and its banks at night, from around 9pm to dawn, and from cropland during the day. They allege that advance information about mobile court drives allows the group to avoid arrest. Some also claim that individuals posing as law enforcers or journalists collect money at the site, encouraging the practice. These allegations could not be independently verified.

The Kanail canal was re-excavated under a nationwide project in the 2022–23 fiscal year. According to the local office of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Tk 2.49 crore was allocated to re-excavate about 7.5 kilometres of the canal from Dhanusara Mijir Bridge in Gholpasha union to Singraish Bridge in Munshirhat union.

The work was awarded through tender to M/s Liberty Traders of Daudkandi and completed on November 30, 2022. Under the contract, the contractor must maintain the canal banks and carry out tree plantation until mid-next year. Ten percent of the payment has been kept as a security deposit, to be released after final verification.

Deputy Assistant Engineer Palash Chandra Roy of the LGED said the contractor completed the excavation on time and remains responsible for maintenance during the project period. He said around 1,000 saplings were recently replanted after some were damaged.

Saiful Islam, a representative of M/s Liberty Traders, said he was not aware of any soil cutting from the riverbank and would look into the matter.

Upazila Executive Engineer Md. Moniruzzaman said the contractor’s 10 percent security deposit will be withheld if damage to the riverbanks is confirmed.

Upazila Executive Officer Md. Nurul Amin said he has received information about soil cutting and that legal action will be taken through mobile courts against those involved.