District Correspondent, Sylhet
Has the local administration failed to protect the ‘Dhalai Bridge,’ the second longest bridge in the Sylhet division, located in Companiganj Upazila? Despite repeated attempts, sand extraction near the pillars of this bridge, which serves as the only route to the stunning landscapes of Meghalaya in India and the Utma Chhara tourist spot, continues unabated.
Efforts by local residents, public representatives, and concerned citizens to engage senior officials of the police and civil administration have seemingly yielded no results. Instead, the sand extractors have grown more audacious, carrying out their activities at night, during twilight hours, and even in broad daylight.
Locals allege that sand is being extracted by digging near the bridge’s pillars. Law enforcement is allegedly being bribed to allow unrestricted sand extraction. The Dhalai Bridge connects the Companiganj Upazila headquarters to three India-bordering unions, facilitating road communication for nearly fifty thousand people. However, influential locals are openly extracting sand from the area near the bridge. Despite periodic crackdowns, the offenders resume sand extraction, disregarding administrative bans. Border residents have urged the administration to take action to save the bridge.
Shaukat Ali Babul, a resident of Parua village, stated that an unscrupulous group is using boats to extract sand near the Dhalai Bridge’s pillars. He claimed this group has been targeting the area under the bridge for a long time, destroying the entire region. He urged immediate action to save the bridge.
Alamgir Alam, chairman of Purbo Islampur Union Parishad, expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “The Dhalai Bridge has become a burden for the people of the eastern bank. Despite numerous efforts, the bridge is not collapsing.”
One individual, Rais Uddin, commented, “If sand extractors are not brought under the law, the bridge cannot be saved. Strict legal action must be taken against both sand buyers and sellers.”
Another local resident, Angur Mia, remarked, “For a small profit, you are damaging a valuable bridge. Even after all the publicity, if people still do not understand, they must be identified and handed over to the law.
