Bagerhat, Jan 09 (V7N) – A mobile court in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat has fined a dredger owner Tk 50,000 for illegally extracting sand from agricultural land by installing a drill dredger.

The fine was imposed on Thursday afternoon on Debashish Mondal, son of Amulya Mondal, after he was found extracting sand illegally from cropland in Lakkhikhaly village under Jiudhara Union. Acting on information received, the mobile court conducted an on-site operation led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Atish Sarkar.

During the operation, authorities confirmed that sand was being unlawfully extracted using a dredging machine on farmland. Under the provisions of the Sand Mahal and Soil Management Act, 2010, Section 5(1) as amended by Section 15(1), the dredger owner was fined Tk 50,000.

Executive Magistrate Atish Sarkar said illegal sand extraction is causing severe damage to agricultural land, soil quality, and the environment. He warned that the destruction of cropland poses a growing threat to local food security. He added that such enforcement drives will continue in the public interest to curb illegal activities and protect farmland and the environment.

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