Sand business run by laying pipes on roads in Kalapara

Dredger pipes laid on roads in Kalapara obstruct the movement of traffic.

Patuakhali: There is none to look after roads. After every 20-50 meters, dredger pipes have been put on the road with sandbags on both sides. Dredger traders are profiting by selling sand to fill the low-lying areas owned by private people. Pedestrians and other users of road are suffering. 

This picture is seen everywhere in Kalapara first class municipal town of Patuakhali. Sand traders have blocked the road for a long time. The municipal administration is silent for mysterious reasons. Without permission from the municipality they can't lay pipes blocking the road.

The practice is observed at Rahmatpur area of Ward No. 3 of the town, Samajkalyan-Rahmatpur-Bus stand intersection. The dredger oprators are filling low-lying land owned by individuals to build structures for months. And dredger traders loaded sand in Andharmanik and Don rivers adjacent to the city. 

Sentu Mia, an auto driver of the city, said that due to the sand pipe, he is unable to drive properly in Rahmatpur area. Passengers are often injured. The other day, a pregnant woman fell ill on her way to the hospital. The woman began to cry. Later he learnt that she had to have an emergency caesarean.

Taibur Rahman, a sand trader, said, "One more shipload of sand will be. When the ship will arrive in 10-12 days, sand will be thrown and the pipe will be removed.

Kalapara Municipal Executive Officer Md. Humayun Kabir said, "No one has complained about this. If there is a complaint, the matter will be looked into and action will be taken."

Kalapara Municipal Mayor Bipul Chandra Howladar said, "Sand traders cannot do this by blocking the road without the permission of the municipality. When the sand pipe was removed from the road, influential people came and laid it again."

Kalapara UNO Md. Jahangir Hossain said, "I have not yet seen this issue of creating obstacles to normal movement on the road by putting pipes. Necessary steps will be taken in this regard." - Gofran Biswas Palash