S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
After the media reported the unprecedented looting of white stones, a tourist destination in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet, the administration was shaken by the strong reaction across the country. The administration took the initiative to recover the looted stones and restore them to white stones. Several committees were formed to investigate the looting. As a result, the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, the Upazila Executive Officer of Companiganj and the officer-in-charge of the police station were transferred.
However, those involved in the looting remain at large. On August 15, a case was filed by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources against 2,000 unknown people in the looting incident. Although 18 days have passed since the case was filed, only 14 people have been arrested so far. However, none of the influential people whose names have emerged as being involved in the looting have been arrested yet. Locals say that the arrest drive has also stalled. Although the police say that the drive is going on every day.
Apart from this case, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation has also named 42 people, including some top politicians of Sylhet, in the white stone looting. In addition, the district administration investigation has also found the involvement of 137 people. However, no legal action has been taken against them so far.
In addition, the ACC has found evidence of the involvement of top officials of the Sylhet administration in the white stone looting. However, apart from the transfer of three people, no legal action has been taken against anyone in the administration so far.
In this regard, the newly transferred Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Companiganj Police Station, Uzayer Al Mahmud Adnan, told, “Operations are underway every day to arrest those involved in the white stone looting. The operation is being carried out with the help of joint forces. Since no one is named in the case, we have to conduct a thorough investigation. We are also trying to identify the location of those against whom allegations are made with the help of information technology. However, we have not been able to find them so far.
Though we tried to contact Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam on his mobile phone, he could not be reached. However, when he recently visited the white stone, he said that legal proceedings are ongoing in the case of looting. However, we are also keeping an eye on this so that no innocent people are harassed. Therefore, the operation is being carried out cautiously.
After nationwide criticism of the white stone looting, initiatives were taken to recover and restore the looted stones. Md. Sarwar, who took charge of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner, gave a three-day ultimatum to return the stones. Alam.
With this administration’s efforts, the beauty of the white stone has started to return to some extent. Stones are now visible in the white stone, which was completely turned into a desert due to looting.
Companyganj Upazila Executive Officer Md. Robin Mia said, “So far, about 1.65 million cubic feet of white stone have been replaced. And so far, about 2.8 million cubic feet have been recovered.”
He said that the work of restoring the remaining recovered stones is also underway. The work of replacing the stones is being done every day using 500 workers, 400 boats and 300 trucks.
Regarding the arrest of those involved in the looting, he said that it is the work of the law enforcement agencies. They will be the ones who can say the best about it.
After the change of government on August 5, 2024, there has been unprecedented looting in the white stone. However, the administration does not have any information about the amount of looting in a year. Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam claimed that 30 percent of the looted stones could not be recovered. However, according to locals, 20 to 30 million cubic feet of the stone were looted in a year.
Meanwhile, Ashraful Kabir, coordinator of the environmental organization ‘Bhumisantan Bangladesh’, commented that such incidents will happen again if the looters are not punished. He said, “Stone looting in Sylhet is not a new incident. It has been going on for ages. It is always seen that when the media starts discussing stone looting, some agitation starts in the administration. Then after a few days it stops. Then the looting starts again. So to stop the looting, the looters must be brought under the law. “At least the top few must be punished and an example must be set.”
In the face of widespread criticism over the Sadapathar looting, the then Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, Sheikh Mahbub Murad, formed a three-member investigation committee on August 12. The committee, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) Padma Sen Singh, had two members, the outgoing UNO of Companiganj, Azizunnahar, and Assistant Director of the Department of Environment, Afzalul Islam.
Criticism began after the formation of the committee. In particular, questions have been raised about the inclusion of UNO of Companiganj, Azizunnahar, in the committee. There are allegations of failure to prevent the Sadapathar looting and indifference towards the looters against this UNO.
The committee submitted its report on August 20. The report named 137 people accused of looting. In addition, the report made 10 recommendations to stop looting.
However, the report has not been published. In this regard, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam said, “The investigation report has been sent to the ministry. They are the ones who are responsible for this matter.”
In the face of widespread criticism over the white stone looting, the then Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, Sheikh Mahbub Murad, formed a three-member investigation committee on August 12. The committee, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) Padma Sen Singh, had two members, the outgoing UNO of Companiganj, Azizunnahar, and Assistant Director of the Department of Environment, Afzalul Islam.
The criticism began after the formation of Ekmit. In particular, questions have been raised about the inclusion of UNO of Companiganj, Azizunnahar, in the committee. There are allegations of failure to prevent the white stone looting and indifference towards the looters against this UNO.
The committee submitted its report on August 20. The report named 137 people accused of looting. In addition, the report made 10 recommendations to stop the looting.
However, the report has not been made public. In this regard, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam said, “The investigation report has been sent to the ministry. They will decide on the matter.”
A probe committee was formed by the Cabinet Division on August 20 into the incident. Cabinet Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Zaheda Parveen was appointed as the convener of the committee. Last week, the committee inspected Sadapathar and held a public hearing in Sylhet city. However, the committee has not yet submitted its report.
In addition, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police has started an investigation into the Sadapathar looting incident. They said that they have received complaints against 50 people for their involvement in the looting.
After the transfer of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Azizunnahar in the Sadapathar looting incident, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Companiganj Police Station Uzayer Al Mahmud was also transferred in an office order last Sunday. However, the OC is still at Companiganj Police Station.
Earlier,DC Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad was made OSD on August 18 and UNO Azizunnahar of Companiganj was transferred on the same day. Apart from this, 22 police personnel were transferred in Sylhet on August 25. Among them are 11 Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) working in Companiganj and Gowainghat police stations, which were discussed in the stone looting scandal.
An administration source said that the DC, UNO and OC were criticized for ‘failing to prevent’ stone looting in the Sadapathar, reserved bunker area, Bholaganj quarry and Shah Arefin Tila areas of Companiganj. They faced widespread criticism after at least 80 percent of the stones were looted from Sadapathar recently. They were transferred in such a situation. However, these were not mentioned as the reason for the transfer.
On August 13, a 5-member team led by Rafi Md. Nazmus Sadat, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Sylhet Integrated District Office, visited Bholaganj Sadapathar. After a series of investigations, the district office submitted the initial report to the ACC headquarters on August 16.
The ACC said that 53 people, including various organizations, individuals and leaders of various political parties, were involved in the stone looting, according to the report. The report mentioned that 42 politicians and businessmen, including the president and general secretary of the metropolitan BNP, the amir of the metropolitan Jamaat and the secretary of the district Jamaat, the district and metropolitan coordinators of the NCP, were involved in the stone looting. It also names some leaders of the banned Awami League.
In addition, the divisional commissioner, deputy commissioner, police superintendent, administration, law enforcement agencies, BGB and various government institutions were accused of stone looting.
After this report was published in the media, controversy began in Sylhet. BNP, Jamaat and NCP leaders denied involvement in the looting and questioned the report at a press conference. Jamaat has also held a protest march in Sylhet and NCP has submitted a memorandum against the report. There is also dissatisfaction with the ACC report among top officials of the administration.
Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who visited Sylhet on Monday, said that the government is seriously examining the ACC report on the Sadapathar looting. If the report is proven true, legal action will be taken against those involved. However, if it is untrue, action will also be taken against those involved in the ACC.
Meanwhile, CID has started investigation against the people involved in the white stone looting incident in Sylhet. This information was given in a notification signed by CID Special Police Superintendent (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan.
The notification said that in view of various intelligence information and several news published in electronic and print media regarding the ‘white stone’ looting incident in Sylhet, the Financial Crime Unit, CID has started investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012.
It said that after receiving complaints from various sources about the initial involvement of about 50 people in the looting incident, the CID decided to start this investigation. Appropriate legal action will be taken against the individuals and organized crime groups involved in the white stone looting incident with the intention of financially benefiting by committing environmental crimes.
