Plundering stone exposes official apathy

Badrul Huda Sohel :

Companiganj, a border upazila about 35 kilometers from Sylhet, an important city in the country’s northeast, has long been a focal point of stone extraction. The border of the upazila is in the foothills adjacent to the border of the Indian state Meghalaya. The Dholai River, flowing through the stone-famous Bholaganj, originates from the hill spring of Meghalaya in India.

These gleaming white stones have moved downstream by the current of the mountain spring. The stones lying along the foothills were like torn clouds of the sky, giving a cool and serene landscape.

Tourists from home and abroad would enjoy a sense of tranquility bathing in the clear water. With its crystal clear water, blue skies, and lush green mountains, it was a captivating fascination for tourists. Here, the tourism industry was getting a fresh economic base.

But the boundless gift of nature on that pristine white ground is suddenly hammered by human greed and avarice. The stones were ferried away by boats in broad day light and in the cavernous darkness of night.

Leniency or laxity on part of the administration resulted in a huge loss, the erosion men never can meet. Any kind of negligence in protecting state property is certainly a sign of irresponsibility and this very irresponsibility, a gradual catalyst for embezzlement and corruption, slowly fuels such crimes.

It is learned that after the political upheaval on August 5 last year, a vested group became active in plundering stones. Hundreds of boats loaded with stones disappeared right before the eyes of tourists, locals and administration.

Although the looting initially halted due to the intervention of some civil society men and the army, the looting later resumed due to the laxity of the field-level administration.

What kinds of stern actions did the administration take against the rampant looting that took place there? Since even the mobile courts could not stop the stone theft, what additional special measures, if any, had the administration taken? Was the administration itself a hostage to the looters? The administration cannot remain indifferent or hostage to any party, be it the power of political influence or the looters.

We all forget that laxity in law enforcement nurtures a culture of impunity in the minds of culprits. As the plunder was not checked at the outset with an iron hand, the looters naturally got encouraged to fulfill their ill motives. It was almost as if they had succeeded in their evil task with an implicit green light. How long will this threat last? What assurance is there that they will not involve themselves in such new sprees of looting in the days to come?

At this critical juncture of looting the white stones from the tourist spot, a question looms in mind – if conducting elections becomes the main responsibility of the government now, so, at what level is the government’s responsibility now in protecting lives, property and state assets?

(The writer is assistant professor and Head, Department of English, Ishakha International University).