Uncontrolled cutting of topsoil from fertile farmland in Dowarabazar upazila of Sunamganj has sparked serious concern among farmers and environmentalists. The practice, now almost routine across most of the upazila’s nine unions, is putting both agricultural production and the natural environment at risk—yet no visible action has been taken to stop it.
Local sources say a group of unscrupulous soil traders are using excavators day and night to strip away the nutrient-rich top layer of soil. The removed soil is reportedly being sold to various development projects, privately owned brick kilns, and for landfilling.
Farmers complain that removing the topsoil has severely damaged the natural fertility of their land, leading to a sharp decline in paddy and other seasonal crop yields. If this continues, they fear large areas of farmland may become permanently barren and unusable.
Environmental and climate experts echo the concern. They warn that destroying topsoil doesn’t just threaten agriculture—it could also lower groundwater levels, harm biodiversity, and trigger long-term environmental disasters.
Although the Soil and Sand Management Act strictly prohibits cutting soil from agricultural land, locals allege that the illegal activity continues to expand due to the silence of the authorities. Conscious citizens of the area are calling for an urgent investigation and legal action against those responsible, to protect crops, biodiversity, and the region’s ecological balance.
Commenting on the issue, Dowarabazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arup Ratan Singh said the matter will be investigated and necessary steps will be taken.