Lifting of sands threatens Mirkadim port

The lifting of sand from the bed of the river Dhaleshwari at Mirkadim river port area under Sadar Upazila has been going on unabated resulting in wide spread erosion and landslide in the area.

The unplanned and indiscriminate lifting of sand started by the bigwigs of the immediate past government has changed the ecological balance and disrupted the normal flow of the river Dhaleshwari. The mainstream of the river is proceeding towards the bank of the river with erosion intensifying.

Mirkadim port is facing the threat of existence. It is apprehended that the way the erosion is continuing, Mirkadim port would go into the bed of the river Dhaleswari in the ensuing monsoon when the river would be full to the brim. The entire situation would go from bad to worse.

Mirkadim port and its adjoining areas are going to the river bed gradually. A vast tract of cultivated lands have already been devoured by the erosion of the river and the existence of Mirkadim port has become vulnerable as a result of indiscriminate sand lifting from the bed of the river Dhaleswari.

A group of sand traders backed by the leaders of the party in power started the business of lifting sands from the bed of the river. The sands are of great demand in the capital city for construction of building. They earned a windfall profit in the business.
The profit encouraged them to lift sand on a massive scale with the use of the privately owned dredger machines. They are engaged in lifting sands in sheer violation of all sorts of rules bringing the river port, markets and villages on the bank of the river Dhaleswari to ruination.

The sand traders were backed by the political hoodlums to give them support in leading a livelihood at the expense of the national interest.

Experts fear that if the present rate of erosion could not be checked immediately the famous historical Mirkadim port (Bandar) would be erased from the map during the rainy season when river Dhaleshwary will be in spate.

As the sand traders face no resistance from local administration or the common people they are becming more greedy and courageous in lifting sand. A time would come when the people could not say anything against them for fear of being harassed or disgraced by them.