S. A. Shofiee, Sylhet:
Who is responsible for the failure to loot eight stone quarries including Kanaighat, Companiganj, Gowainghat and Jaintapur in Sylhet? Amidst questions about this responsibility, the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet has been withdrawn and the Upazila Executive Officer of Companiganj has been transferred. But the looters are still out of reach. But the stone looting in Gowainghat has not stopped yet. At the same time, the incident of stone looting from the Kanaighat quarry in the name of an alleged auction is going on. Even after the stipulated period of the auction, the recently departed Director (Joint Secretary) of the Mineral Resources Development Bureau, Md. Sarowar Hossain, mysteriously extended the time and gave an opportunity for looting. The looting gang is still continuing to loot stone in this quarry by creating a legal loophole. Basically, Charowar Hossain himself became a partner with the looters through paperwork after ensuring financial bribery. Kanaighat Upazila No. 1 Laxmi Prasad Purba Union Chairman and Kanaighat Upazila Awami League top leader Md. Tamiz Uddin has been facilitated by the local Upazila Executive Officer Tania Akhter to loot stones in Lobachhara. While the AL looters are absconding across the country, Tamiz is busy looting stones in the administration’s shed. Recently, a boat meeting between UNO Tania and Tamiz went viral on social media. Meanwhile, the white stone looting incident in Bholaganj, Sylhet has created a stir across the country. This has made looting incidents in all quarries a new topic of discussion. The administration has been shaken. A multi-pronged operation by the joint forces to recover the stone eaters and stones has begun. An investigation committee has been formed. At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also taken action against the stone looters. The ACC said at the time that the administration is responsible for the stone looting. On the other hand, the stone looting incident reached the High Court. Along with this, some instructions were given. Within seven days, the looted stones were returned, and a list of the looters was submitted. In addition, the Mineral Resources Development Bureau filed a case at the Companiganj Police Station. In this, 2000 people were named as unknown accused. So far, 9 people have been arrested in this case, but the main instigators are out of reach.
Sadapathar, Jaflong, Bichnakandi and Utmachara in Sylhet are known as tourist destinations. Stone comes to these places from the hilly slopes of India across the border. Earlier, eight stone quarries in Sylhet, excluding the reserved areas, were leased, but this was not done after 2020 due to damage to the environment and environment. After that, stone traders and workers took a strong stance in favor of stone extraction. In addition, they went to the High Court to fight it legally. Although the court’s multiple instructions were in favor of traditional stone extraction methods, the local district administration did not take it into account.
In the meantime, when the political situation changed on August 5, the looting of sand and stones started due to the inaction of the local administration. In the looting of stones from reserved areas, tourist centers and quarries and stones from various palaces, it did not seem like there was anything called an administrative machine in the country. The participation of local leaders holding titles from various political parties was open in this looting. However, this looting was not from now on, the fascist Awami League administration was reckless. But the media was blindfolded. The administrative machine was a close accomplice in the looting. At that time, rumors were spread throughout Gowainghat and Companiganj that thousands of crores of taka had entered the pockets of the then local OCs and UNOs. After the change of situation on August 5, looting started in a new way. Instead of the Awami League leaders, the quarries were controlled by local BNP leaders and workers. However, the looters of the Awami League also joined them in the looting. This is like a thief, a thief, a thief. The local administration did not take effective action despite the news of the looting and theft incident being broadcasted in multiple media outlets. Finally, the administration is facing criticism for the looting of the Sadapathar tourist center. At the same time, the instigators of the looting have also turned a blind eye to the situation. Meanwhile, a list of those involved in the looting and theft of white stone from the Bholaganj stone quarry in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet has reached the hands of detectives. But similarly, allegations have been made against Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Azizunnahar of neglecting his duties and sheltering the looters. 36th BCS officer Azizunnahar joined Companiganj on January 14, 2025. Videos and pictures of stone theft in the Sadapathar area in his presence have already gone viral on social media and the media. He was transferred yesterday (Monday).
Sources say that Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Sher Mohammad Mahbub Murad has been transferred in the stone case. He was also withdrawn yesterday. On the other hand, the district administration formed a three-member committee last Tuesday to investigate the looting incident in Sapadhar. The committee was supposed to submit its report on Sunday. But instead of submitting the report yesterday, the investigation committee has asked for three more days. The head of the investigation committee, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) Padma Sen Singh confirmed the matter and said, “The investigation is not over yet. Some more time is needed for the sake of detailed verification.”
Incidentally, there are 51 quarries (specific places for extracting stone and sand) across the country. Of these, there are eight stone quarries in Kanaighat, Companiganj, Gowainghat and Jaintapur in Sylhet. Apart from these, there are stones in 10 other places in Sylhet including Sapadhar, Jaflong, Bichnakandi, Utmachara. These places are known as tourist centers. These stones come from the hill rivers of India across the border. Before 2020, eight quarries in Sylhet, excluding protected areas, were leased for stone extraction. However, due to environmental and ecological damage, no more stone quarry leases were granted after 2020. Businessmen and political party leaders in Sylhet.
