BCG's relentless efforts bring illegal sand lifting to zero

Bangladesh Coast Guard has become a symbol of trust among the people of coastal and riverine areas and country's common people.

Members of coast guard are always striving to fulfill key responsibilities such as protecting fishery resources, conducting anti-smuggling operations, suppressing theft and robbery on sea and river routes, preventing illegal drug transportation, preventing human trafficking, and providing relief and rescue activities in coastal areas during natural disasters, said a press release on Thursday.

After the deterioration of law and order in the country after August 5, 2024, the activities of sand miners in the riverbank areas increased to a large extent. Due to the indiscriminate extraction of sand by illegal sand traders, the risk of cropland and residential areas of the riverbank villages disappearing into the river has increased to a large extent.

The appeals of the affected people protesting against the illegal extraction of sand and reports in various media and newspapers attracted the attention of the coast guard authority.

With the permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the coast guard  members regularly conduct mobile court and joint operations against illgal sand miners in the areas including Chandpur, Mohanpur, Shatanol, Kalipur, Munshiganj and Kabutar Khola in Chandpur adjacent to the Meghna River, Koyra, Ghiralal Bazar, Angtihara, Tentultala and Batiaghata areas adjacent to the Shibsa and Arpangasia rivers in Khulna, Lalmohan, Ilisha, Beduria, Latarchar, Muktijoddha Char and Golbunia areas adjacent to the Tentulia river in Bhola adjacent to the Meghna River, and Laukhali and Durghapur areas of Patuakhali adjacent to the Laukati river.

Since August 5, the coast guard members have been patrolling 24 hours a day and 76 sand dredgers, 106 sand-carrying bulkheads, 5 excavators/excavators were seized and a total of 153 criminals involved in illegal sand lifting have been arrested during the drives.

Every member of the coast guard is firmly committed to ensuring people's safety in coastal and riverine areas.

These activities will continue in the future as well, the press release added.