Guliyakhali beach in Chattagram, Bangladesh, on the verge of destruction
Due to sand extracted from the Guliakhali Beach area of the Barbakund union of Sitakunda Upazila under Chattagram is going to ruin. As a result, 8.09 hectares of agricultural land became a wasteland.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) has issued legal notices to 15 Bangladesh Government high officials, including the Secretaries of the Ministry of Land (MoL) and the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), to take appropriate action against such allegations.
According to the notice, sand extracting is done by cutting the Sea Dyke in the North Mahmudabad and Mandaritola areas and dumping it on the adjacent agricultural land. Because of this, Guliyakhali beach is destroyed due to this sand extraction.
All these consequences ultimately damage the forest and its biodiversity. The mangrove afforestation project is also under threat.
The notice alleged that 20 acres of agricultural land had become a wasteland for the same reason. The notice demanded action against those involved in this unauthorized sand extraction and steps to recover compensation. Lawyer S Hasanul Banna has issued the notice and demanded written accountability within seven days.
When asked, AHM Ziaur Rahman, Co-ordinator of BELA, Chattagram district, said, “I have visited the area on behalf of BELA and found evidence of illegal sand extraction. On the day, later I sent a legal notice.”
The notice also named the Director-General of the Department of Environment, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Chief Conservator of Forests, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chittagong, and Managing Director of Sand Extractor Capital Petroleum.
