Coast Guard detained eight, seizes four dredgers for illegal sand extraction in Bhola
Bhola Correspondent
Coast Guard members detained eight individuals along with four dredgers and a bulkhead during a drive against illegal sand extraction from the Meghna River under Bhola Sadar Police Station on Friday.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, Coast Guard Media Officer, confirmed the operation in a press briefing on Friday afternoon.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from Coast Guard Base Bhola conducted a special midnight raid at around 12:30 AM on Friday in the Paschim Ilisha area along the Meghna River. During the operation, the team intercepted four dredgers and one bulkhead engaged in illegal sand mining and detained eight operators from the spot.
Following the drive, a mobile court led by an Executive Magistrate fined the owners of the dredgers and bulkhead Tk 2 lakh. The court sentenced seven of the detained sand miners to 10 days of simple imprisonment, while one minor was released after signing a bond.
The collected fine was deposited into the state treasury. Legal procedures regarding the seized dredgers and bulkhead have been taken
Coast Guard officials reaffirmed that such anti-extractive drives will continue to protect croplands and residential properties along riverbanks from illegal sand miners.
