Dhaka: Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Friday asked the deputy commissioners to take effective measures to stop illegal sand lifting from rivers across the country and to curb their pollution and encroachment as well.

The minister said this while talking to reporters after attending the morning session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at the Secretariat.
‘They (DCs) were asked not to allow anyone to lift sand illegally from rives at any cost,’ he said, adding that permission will be given for sand lifting

from the rivers only after the survey team of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) gives clearance after an assessment.

Shajahan Khan said the deputy commissioners also expressed their concern over the problem of sand lifting from rivers.

He also noted that due to excessive sand lifting from rivers by bulkhead ships, natural flows of the rivers are being hampered and the habitations along the riverbanks are facing increased erosion.

Among other issues, the deputy commissioners have been asked to take strict measures to stop hassles created by leases in 14 ferry terminals and their adjacent launch terminals across the country where the leases have already been cancelled by the government, he said.

Directives were also given to take effective measures to prevent river erosion near ferry and launch terminals that has aggravated due to monsoon rains.

On the government’s directive to prevent river encroachment, the minister said the government is committed to taking all types of initiatives needed to stop river encroachment and the DCs have been asked to take appropriate legal steps in this regard