Allegations of white stone being crushed and smuggled again in Sylhet
S A Shofiee,Sylhet:
The Upazila Administration has conducted a raid in the Kalabari area of Companiganj, Sylhet, on allegations of white stone being crushed and smuggled again.
At least 13,000 cubic feet of crushed and broken stone were taken under the administration from at least 25 vehicles from various crusher mills in the raid from 10 pm on Saturday (October 29) till late at night, according to local mill owners. Although the value of the seized stones is 20 lakh 15 thousand taka according to local sources, there have been allegations of looting in the name of stone development.
During the raid, a young man was arrested and taken away from the office of a local crusher mill. It is said that he has been sent to jail for 6 months by the Upazila Administration after being tried by a mobile court.
Local sources say, After the uprising, white stones and sand were looted in large numbers in the Bholaganj Saada Pathar and Ropeway Bunker areas, with the help of several local groups, and workers from other areas were hired. When the images of white stones being looted from the tourist spot went viral on social media due to the inaction of the administration, the district administration and the Ministry of Mineral Resources took action. Several accused have been arrested and a case has been filed. They are in jail and on bail.
After remaining silent for almost four months, the stone-looting gang has become active again and is collecting and crushing hidden white stones in the Ropeway Bunker area. Recently, such allegations have been circulating for a month. Such allegations were brought to the attention of the Upazila Administration of Companiganj by local sources, and the Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Robin Mia, Land Officer Palash Talukder, Officer-in-Charge Md. Ratan Sheikh PPM launched an operation last night. In the presence of a group of police, 25 trucks of stone debris were taken from the courtyards of 10 crusher mills, including the destruction of 4/5 crusher mills, on Saturday night.
But due to the lack of awareness of the administration, a group involved in the local operation used the names of various mosques and madrasas in the area and divided the broken stones of all the stone trucks, whose estimated value is over 20 lakh taka.
Upazila Land Officer Palash Talukder confirmed the operation and said that about 10 trucks of broken stones were taken. In response to a question, the Land Officer said that the seized stones were not in the custody of the administration but were given in the context of applications for various developmental works in the Upazila.
However, a local responsible person who witnessed the operation said that at least 20/22 cars of stones were supposed to be given to the Sylhet Police Line and local mosque madrasa through the administration, but mysteriously more than half of the stones, estimated to be worth 15 lakh taka, mysteriously disappeared, the person commented. He secretly commented that he was an official of the upazila administration and was involved.
When asked to know the detailed information including the stones seized in the mobile court operation, Officer-in-Charge of Companiganj Police Station Md. Ratan Sheikh PPM said that all the stones seized in the mobile court operation last night were given to the local U/P member for the development of the social, mosque and madrasa infrastructure of the area. In response to a question, he said that the list/quantity of the seized goods is with the UN, ACLAND, Mr. When the matter of looting in the name of development was reported to Companyganj Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Robin Mia, he confirmed the matter of the operation and said that 5/7 cars of stones were confiscated and given in light of the application of the local mosque and madrasa. In light of local sources, if questions are asked about the goods of at least 25 cars, he said that legal action will be taken against those involved if proper evidence is found.