A railway bridge and a road bridge over the Barachhara canal in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar faces risk due to large scale extraction of silica sand within half a kilometre of the important structures.

The callous act, conducted in broad daylight, also affects the cultivable lands and irrigation wells, and poses the threat of a serious havoc during the coming rains but the government officials and public representatives hardly pay attention to it, locals said.

During a recent visit to the spot, this correspondent found silica sand extraction from near Barachhara Railway Bridge on Sylhet-Dhaka route and in Barachhara Bridge on Sylhet-Bramanbazar road.

Four rickshaw-vans were being loaded with sand and three others were in wait for the same purpose.

Fifteen to twenty rickshaw-vans take sand from the spot daily, said a few workers seeking anonymity.

“The silica sand lifting and movement of sand-laden vans affects kilometres-long areas along the Barachhara canal. The two bridges will be under risk due to erosion in the banks, especially when there is heavy rain and onrush of water from the hills,” said Abu Yusuf, a resident of Baramchal area.

Locals have recently met the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Kulaura and demanded immediate steps to stop the silica sand lifting for saving the two bridges and areas along the canal, he added.

Badrul Huda, assistant director at the Department of Environment in Moulvibazar, said, “To save the environment, the High Court earlier ordered stopping the lease for sand extraction 51 spots in the district, including Barachhara canal area. But some local influential people are lifting sand, defying the rule.”

 Abdul Karim Kim, executive member of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, said illegal sand lifting poses various hazards but the government authorities and local public representatives do not seem to realize the adverse effect of the ill practices.

Amid laxity of the authorities concerned, sand traders are lifting large quantities of sand even at the sensitive spot, where an important railway bridge and a road bridge are situated, he added.

ATM Farhad Chowdhury, UNO of Kulaura said, “As the sand lifting poses threat to two bridges over the Barachhara canal, I conducted a mobile court drive and seized a van with silica sand a few days ago from the same spot.

Instructions have given not to extract sand from there.”

“If there is further occurrence of the unscrupulous act, we will take necessary measures,” he added.