Topsoil is being stripped from agricultural lands in Satkania, Chattogram, as syndicates exploit farmers to supply brick kilns and construction projects, creating a crisis in the farming sector.
Farmers, struggling financially, are either pressured or enticed into selling their soil. As a result, productive farmlands are turning into barren wastelands, leading to an environmental and agricultural crisis that could take decades to repair.
The uppermost layer of soil, rich in organic matter essential for growing crops, is being extracted using excavators and dump trucks. Once stripped, the land loses its fertility, and it can take 15 to 20 years for the soil to regenerate naturally. This leaves farmers unable to cultivate crops, threatening the region’s food security.
The issue is particularly acute during the dry winter months when demand for topsoil spikes. Farmlands in Satkania Sadar, Dhemsha, Keochia, Chadaha, Dharmapur, Bajalia, Naluya, Khagaria, Madarsha, and Eochia are the worst affected. Residents claim that syndicates strategically operate after dusk, removing soil and transporting it to brick kilns and other sites before sunrise to evade detection.
Md. Moniruzzaman, an agriculture officer in Satkania, explained the devastating impact of topsoil removal on farmland. “Removing more than six inches of topsoil destroys its fertility. If this continues unchecked, it could take up to 30 years of intensive care to make the land viable again,” he said.
He also noted that his office regularly informs the administration about reported cases. “This is not just an agricultural issue; it’s an attack on the livelihoods of farmers. We’ve even received threats for trying to stop it,” he added.
Despite some enforcement efforts, the lucrative trade in topsoil persists. Farmers in Satkania are losing their ability to grow crops, and large areas of once-fertile farmland are becoming barren.
"Whenever we receive reports of topsoil removal in Satkania, we immediately inform the administration. During inspections, we've even received threats over the phone. This practice must be stopped. If this continues, farmland in Satkania and surrounding upazilas will soon become unsuitable for cultivation," Moniruzzaman warned.
Local administrations claim they are making efforts to curb this practice through raids and fines. Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Milton Biswas said, “We are constantly patrolling during the day and night to seize equipment and arrest those responsible. Last year, I jailed 25 individuals and fined them Tk 20 lakh. This year, we are working even harder, but it feels like playing hide-and-seek. They relocate their operations as soon as we arrive.”
The UNO also mentioned that committees have been formed in every union to combat illegal soil extraction, hill cutting, and sand collection. “Public resistance is critical to stopping this practice,” he said, urging locals to actively participate.
In collaboration with the Department of Environment, local authorities fined two brick kilns and demolished four others last year. However, the trade remains rampant, as syndicates reportedly enjoy protection from powerful individuals.