Illegal soil excavation in Karihata union
Gazipur Correspondent :
In Karihata Union of Kapasia upazila, illegal soil excavation is reportedly taking place under the cover of night, prompting local residents to call for urgent intervention by authorities. The illegal soil cutting is happening near the regional road connecting Trimohani Bazaar to Aral Bazaar, along the southern side of the local union parishad.
Locals informed Kapasia Barta that since Wednesday evening, 10-15 unidentified individuals have been using 10-12 soil-cutting machines (“veku”) to extract soil and transport it to nearby brick kilns via multiple drum trucks.
Journalists attempting to contact the upazila administration could not obtain any information.
Residents and several BNP leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity over the phone, said that Shah Riazul Hannan, the BNP-nominated candidate for Kapasia’s 4th constituency, has requested local authorities to take action to stop the illegal soil cutting.
A few days ago, based on secret reports of similar nighttime illegal soil cutting in the same area, the upazila administration seized one soil-cutting machine. Sensing the presence of officials, the operators and workers fled the scene.
When contacted by phone, SI Shubharaj of Kapasia Police Station did not answer calls. BNP leaders told Dainik Kapasia Barta that they do not know who is involved in the illegal excavation and that they only learned about it through informal channels.
They added that on Wednesday night, when their acting party chairman Tarique Rahman left Kapasia for Dhaka, they learned that unknown individuals were illegally cutting soil.
They informed Saiful Islam, a BNP leader of Karihata Union, about the situation.
Journalists contacted Saiful Islam and other local BNP leaders, who stated that no party members are involved in the illegal soil cutting. Saiful Islam added that after receiving news of the illegal excavation, the matter was reported to Kapasia Police Station, and SI Shubharaj was assigned to take legal action against the offenders. Attempts to reach SI Shubharaj by phone went unanswered, leaving the status of the action uncertain.