Cox’s Bazar, Jan 16, (V7N) - A joint operation by the Ukhiya Forest Department and Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department was carried out in the Chorakhola area of Palongkhali Union and the Thaingkhali Canal, leading to the seizure of 8,000 cubic feet of sand and two dredger machines used for illegal sand extraction.
 
The operation took place at around 12:00 PM on Wednesday, January 15, in the remote hilly area of Chorakhola and Thaingkhali Canal in Ukhiya’s Palongkhali Union. Despite the successful seizure, no arrests were made during the operation.
 
According to Ukhiya Range Officer Shahinur Rahman, the illegal sand extraction had been ongoing for a long period. A local syndicate had been cutting hills and using dredger machines in the Thaingkhali forest and canal areas to extract sand. Upon receiving information, a joint operation was launched with the help of the local administration. As a result, 8,000 cubic feet of sand and two dredger machines were confiscated from the forest department's land.
 
Ukhiya Assistant Commissioner (Land), Jarin Tasnim Tasin, confirmed that the operation was conducted with the support of the Forest Department to tackle the illegal cutting of hills and sand extraction. She assured that the operation against those involved in environmental degradation, including sand and hill extraction, would continue, although no arrests were made during this operation.
 
The team involved in the operation included Assistant Forest Conservator Mohammad Monirul Islam of Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department, Ukhiya Range Officer Shahinur Rahman, Thaingkhali Beat Officer Bikash Das, Ukhiya Sadar Beat Officer Arfat Hossain, and Dauchhari Beat Officer Imdadul Islam Roni.
 
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