At least 15 people were injured in a clash between villagers and criminals over sand extraction at Dashdona Nayagaon village in Sonargaon upazila yesterday.

According to sources, the incident happened when a group of people hired by Siddique Molla tried to extract sand from the Meghna and people from the nearby villages intervened. The criminals assaulted the villagers with lethal weapons, leaving 15 injured.

Villagers alleged that sand grabbers are indiscriminately extracting sand from the river putting the villages on the fringe of extinction.

Nursia Kamal, upazila nirbahi officer of Sonargaon said a contract has been given for river excavation from BIWTA. The authority is looking into the villagers' allegation of illegal sand extraction.