Adding to that, 35 illegal open sky sand storages damaged around half a kilometre of the much used road. Residents of Kashiani and Ratil union said, constant sand shipments on countless ten-wheeler trucks, tore-down the carpeting of the ram-shackled road, and it became impossible to commute on this road after persistent rain contributed to its worsening. They alleged, an unofficial syndicate of local sand traders Afzal Sheikh, Ranju Sheikh, Emran Mridha, Esquen Sikder, Swapan Sarder, Ruhul Sarder, and Shabu Munshi along with 30 more, control the sand business in the area. Acknowledging the condition of the road, Ruhul Sarder, a local sand trader said: "After receiving the ban notices from the authority we opted out from storing sands on the roadsides." Md Shariful Alam, deputy engineer of Gopalganj Road and Highways Department confirmed the marred condition of the road, and said: "Despite repetitive prohibition the local influential businessmen continued storing sands illegally, and using heavy trucks on the rickety road.”"We are preparing to file a case against the traders.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 14, 2019 18:24 UTC