The Sitakunda upazila administration in Chattogram has stopped illegal sand extraction from the coastal area of Syedpur Union and the filling of agricultural land. Following a report published on February 21, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mamun conducted a mobile court inspection and ordered an immediate halt to all sand extraction and land-filling activities. On Thursday morning, another mobile court operation led by Executive Magistrate Sadia Afrin Kochi and Abdullah Al Mamun seized nine dredgers and detained thirteen individuals involved in the illegal activity.

Officials stated that while the Chattogram Port Authority allows limited sand extraction from designated coastal zones, no permission exists for dredging inside the sea. Several institutions were found violating these conditions. Local residents alleged that illegal sand lifting had been ongoing for a long time across multiple unions, damaging fertile farmland and disrupting fishing activities. Fishermen reported torn nets and financial hardship due to the operations.

Authorities confirmed that legal action will follow after verifying land classifications and ownership records, as parts of the filled area include government land without proper authorization.