A mobile court in Tongibari, Munshiganj, fined three people a total of Tk350,000 over allegations of illegally cutting and selling soil from agricultural land. According to a report published on July 25, the operation was conducted from 7:50am to 1:50pm on Saturday around Betka Bazar, the canal in the Chhatphatia area, and the bank of a Dhaleshwari branch river. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Wazed Wasif led the drive.

Mobile court sources said the accused were loading soil cut from farmland onto trawlers within about one kilometre of Betka Bridge. Three people were detained along with soil-laden trawlers and soil-cutting equipment during the operation. The fines were imposed under the Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act.

Md Wazed Wasif said such operations would continue to protect agricultural land and stop illegal soil cutting. The report did not identify the three detainees or specify how the Tk350,000 penalty was divided among them.