20,000 cubic feet of soil seized in Bhairab

A mobile court in Bhairab on Tuesday night seized a vessel carrying 20,000 cubic feet of soil while it was allegedly being transported to Dhaka after being illegally excavated from cropland in Bhairab, Kishoreganj.

In connection with the incident, the vessel’s representative, Md Shamim Mia, was fined Tk 1 lakh for illegally excavating soil.

At around 10:30pm on Tuesday, a raid was conducted at the Bhairab River Port jetty, and the vessel, MB Shah Fatullah-12, was seized.

Bhairab Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) AHM Azimul Haque told The New Nation that the vessel was seized while carrying soil to Dhaka after it had been illegally excavated from cropland without permission. “A fine of Tk 1 lakh was collected in connection with the incident,” he said.

The seized soil will later be sold at auction, and the proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury, the AC (Land) added.

According to AHM Azimul Haque, soil was being illegally excavated from cropland in Lundia and Khalapara haors in Aganagar union of Bhairab using an excavator and transported to Dhaka by vessel.

Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the district administration conducted a raid at the Bhairab River Port jetty.

The vessel loaded with soil was seized during a drive led by Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) AHM Azimul Haque. BIWTA Traffic Inspector Md Jasim Uddin and other officials of the administration were also present during the drive.