Bangladesh, Sept. 1 -- Even strict monitoring has failed to prevent illegal sand extraction in Moulvibazar's Sreemangal. The administration is struggling to prevent perpetrators who evade the monitoring, use influence or cite excuses to use it in home construction and extract the sand.

Due to the long-term extraction of sand from various streams and land in Sreemangal, the natural flow of water is being obstructed, the banks of the streams are being eroded, and the environment is being damaged. This extraction is also damaging roads and urban infrastructure. In addition, illegal extraction is causing the government to lose out on a source of revenue.

Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi (Executive) Officer (UNO) Md Islam Uddin said silica sand is...