BRAHMANBARIA, Bangladesh — February 22, 2026 — At least six villagers were injured Sunday morning when armed men opened fire with pellet rounds during a protest against illegal sand extraction along the Meghna River at Char Lapang in West Union, Nabinagar Upazila, underscoring long-running tensions over unregulated resource extraction that damages both livelihoods and the environment.
The injured — Nurul Amin, 42; Rauf Mia, 45; Safar Mia, 50; Siam Hossain, 16; Jasim Uddin, 40; and Ibrahim, 30 — were initially taken to Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex before being referred to Brahmanbaria General Hospital for further care. Hospital doctors confirmed that all six were hit by pellet shots and reported that none were in critical condition.
Local residents had gathered along the Meghna’s riverbank to protest what they describe as persistent and damaging illegal sand mining by a powerful group operating more than 50 excavation machines. Villagers say the unlicensed operations have accelerated riverbank erosion, undermined agricultural lands and threatened homes, risks documented in local and international research on the environmental impact of uncontrolled sand mining.
According to witnesses, a group of 20–30 armed men aboard speedboats attacked the protesters before local police, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Pias Basak and Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam of Nabinagar Police Station, arrived on the scene. The attackers remain at large, prompting fears among villagers that powerful networks are shielding illicit operations.
Nabinagar Upazila Executive Officer Mahmudul Hasan confirmed to reporters that there is no official sand lease in Char Lapang and that authorities are coordinating with counterparts in neighboring Narsingdi for a joint crackdown. “We are working to identify the perpetrators and will pursue legal action based on the evidence gathered,” Hasan said on Sunday, emphasizing that the extraction had no administrative sanction.
The incident has drawn swift reaction from political leaders. Brahmanbaria-5 Member of Parliament M. A. Mannan issued a statement condemning the attack and urging stringent legal measures against those responsible. On the banks of the Meghna, Mannan told local media, “Violence against peaceful villagers must not go unanswered. We will see that the law takes its course and such crimes are stopped.”
Experts and environmental advocates have long warned that unregulated sand excavation — part of a broader global trend in Asia — destabilizes riverbeds, accelerates erosion, and harms ecosystems as well as rural economies. In Bangladesh, where river sand is a key construction material, illegal extraction has been linked to ongoing degradation of waterways and farmland, with researchers noting that such activity “alters the direction and flow of rivers and may permanently impact the lives and livelihood of riverine communities.”
Beyond environmental loss, the combination of deep economic incentives and weak enforcement has enabled what observers describe as “sand mafia” networks to flourish. These syndicates often operate at the intersection of corruption and local power structures, complicating efforts to regulate extraction and protect vulnerable riverbank residents.
In recent years, authorities have on occasion taken action against illegal mining in parts of Bangladesh, such as mobile court seizures of sand and machinery in Chattogram and legal notices served on government bodies over illegal extraction along the Meghna River, reflecting mounting public frustration and legal scrutiny.
Villagers in Char Lapang, however, say the recent violence marks a dangerous escalation. While the injured recover in Brahmanbaria, many fear future clashes unless systemic enforcement curbs illegal operations and safeguards riverine communities — a challenge that now bears both human and ecological stakes for Bangladesh’s river-dependent regions.
