In Chattogram's Mirsharai, soil is being cut from triple-crop farmland day and night. With the topsoil removed, the land is losing its fertility, and although the administration carries out occasional drives, the cutting has not stopped.

Unscrupulous people are cutting soil from farmland across the upazila's 16 unions and two municipalities. Less is cut during the day, but from evening until dawn the cutting goes on at a frantic pace. Many roads are being damaged by the vehicles carrying the soil.

Most of the soil goes to brick kilns. Some individuals under the patronage of political leaders are cutting it in collusion with kiln owners. Soil from farmland is also being taken to fill many sites. As a result, the amount of cultivable land is shrinking day by day, and surrounding farmland is under threat. Residents complain that informing the administration has brought no result.

Nur Hossain Manik, a resident of Katachhara union, said: "Hundreds of truckloads of soil are being taken away every night. Everyone involved in cutting the soil is linked to political parties, so no one dares to protest."

Ali Newaz, a resident of the Durgapur area, said: "Trucks run past my house every night, so I can't sleep properly. The trucks are also damaging the road. It seems there is no one to look into this."

Locals said soil is being cut from farmland to dig ponds in Karerhat, Hinguli, Zorarganj, Dhoom, Osmanpur, Ichhakhali, Katachhara, Durgapur, Maghadia, Saherkhali and Wahedpur unions of the upazila.

Mirsharai upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Mahfuza said those involved are being punished and soil-cutting equipment is being seized. There is no scope to change the class of land by cutting soil, she said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.