Six Sentenced by Mobile Court
The joint forces conducted an operation in response to allegations of illegal sand extraction from the Feni River without a lease. During the operation, one dredger machine and several thousand feet of thick pipes were destroyed. Additionally, five individuals were sentenced to two months of simple imprisonment, and one was sentenced to one month of simple imprisonment by a mobile court.
The mobile court was conducted throughout Thursday (March 13) in the Sahaberghat Bridge area under Char Darbesh Union of the upazila. It was led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kamrul Hasan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Tania Akter Lubna, Captain Alif Al-Ghani of the Sonagazi Army Camp, and members of the police and Ansar Battalion.
The convicted individuals are: Md. Imran, son of Al-Mamun Farazi from Laskarpur, Kalapara village, Patuakhali; Rakibul Islam, son of Abu Saleque Howlader from the same village; Saiful Islam, son of Belayet Hossain from Rameshpur village, Kabirhat, Noakhali; Dewan Delwar, son of Dewan Abdul Ali from Kendrapara village, Narayanganj; Md. Robin, son of Sekander Mia from Kalikapur village, Begumganj, Noakhali; and Md. Sajib, son of Md. Selim from Ramgati village, Lakshmipur.
According to the mobile court and local sources, former student leader Alaudddin Mintoo, who had been abroad for a long time, led an illegal sand extraction syndicate using dredger machines in the Feni River near Sahaberghat Bridge under Char Darbesh Union. His actions caused significant damage to the riverbanks, resulting in widespread erosion in rural areas and the unregulated transportation of sand. The lack of adequate police manpower in Sonagazi Police Station made it difficult to stop these activities, which were also causing substantial revenue losses for the government.
In response to these complaints, the upazila administration conducted a mobile court operation with joint forces in the area. Equipment used for sand extraction was removed during the operation.
Confirming the matter, Sonagazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamrul Hasan said that such operations by the administration to protect the environment, mineral resources, and rivers will continue.
Md. Ibrahim, a local resident of the Sahaberghat area under Char Darbesh Union, stated that a sand extraction syndicate, led by Alaudddin Mintoo, had been operating unlawful.
