Pabna, Sept 30 (V7N) – Illegal soil cutting with dredgers continues in the Islampur area of Hemayetpur Union in Pabna Sadar upazila despite repeated drives by the administration, putting nearby homes, farmland and trees at risk.

Local residents alleged that large dredgers are being operated day and night to extract soil from deep pits, which is then transported by trucks to brick kilns and other areas for sale.

Residents said the practice has continued at two points in Islampur for the past seven to eight years. Prolonged soil extraction has created pits reportedly 70 to 80 feet deep in some places.

They alleged that the homesteads of seven to eight low-income families have already been lost due to the soil cutting. Several affected families were allegedly forced to leave after receiving only nominal compensation.

Locals alleged that a man named Shawon Pramanik is involved in the soil-cutting activities. They claimed that despite occasional administrative drives, the operation resumes within a few days.

Another person, identified as Selim, is also allegedly operating a dredger nearby.

Residents said a house is currently at risk of collapsing because soil has been removed from its immediate vicinity, weakening the ground. They fear continued extraction could trigger a collapse and damage the house and other nearby homes.

Farmers also expressed concern over the impact on agricultural land. They said cracks and erosion have appeared in nearby fields because of the deep pits, reducing cultivable land and increasing the risk of further land loss.

Several residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said soil cutting stops temporarily whenever the administration conducts a drive but resumes later.

They questioned how illegal soil extraction could continue in the same area despite repeated enforcement drives and alleged that inadequate follow-up monitoring allows those involved to resume operations.

Attempts were made to contact Shawon Pramanik for his comment on Tuesday at around 5:20pm. He did not answer repeated phone calls. A text message was also sent seeking his response, but no reply was received.

Pabna Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Fuad Hossain said the administration had conducted drives in the area previously.

“If evidence of illegal soil cutting is found again, legal action will be taken,” he said.

END/MSR/SMA/