Environmentalists are strongly criticizing the fact that no action has been taken against the Divisional Commissioner in connection with the looting of white stones in Sylhet’s Bholaganj. They are accusing Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi of being the “instigator” of the white stone looting.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Sylhet’s newly- appointed Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam rushed to the white stone area immediately after taking charge. On the way, he suddenly stopped his car and joined the drive. Witnessing the horrific, discolored scene of the white stones, he said that the maximum measures would be taken to restore the Bholaganj white stones to their former state.
On the other hand, the task force carried out an operation to stop illegal sand and stone extraction in Jaflong of Gowainghat upazila.
At that time, three people involved in illegal sand extraction were arrested and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by the task force led by the executive magistrate. Environmentalists are also critical about the “prize posting” of the Companyganj UNO who “failed to stop the loot.”
Environmental organizations say that the name that comes up first as the instigator of the white stone looting is Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi. To stop the workers’ movement demanding stone extraction, he received applause by delivering fiery speeches in favor of stone extraction.
That very speech encouraged the looters and made the local administration relaxed. The same allegation was also made in the preliminary investigation report of the Anti-Corruption Commission. In the white stone incident, Deputy Commissioner Sher Mahbub Murad was withdrawn.
The UNO of Companyganj, Azizunnahar, was completely unsuccessful in preventing the looting. Even though the ACC report mentioned her involvement, instead of withdrawing her, she was posted to a better place, which has sparked widespread criticism in Sylhet. However, about 10 days later, on Wednesday, the Commissioner, while visiting the Companyganj white stones, responded to these questions, saying that his statement was misrepresented.
He said his statement was about legal stone extraction through lease, nothing else. Although he denied it, Jugantor possesses the recording of the fiery speech made by the Divisional Commissioner in his office on July 8.
In protest with six-point demands including stone extraction, transport owners and workers’ leaders started an indefinite strike of goods and public transport across Sylhet district at 6 am on July 8. In the afternoon, they suspended the strike after assurances from the administration and sat for discussions at the Divisional Commissioner’s office. Leaders of various political parties in Sylhet were also present.
In that meeting, Sylhet’s Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi said, “Sylhet is not an isolated area, it is part of the country. If stone can be extracted all over the country, why not in Sylhet? People’s lives and livelihoods are involved with it. I believe that humans are not outside of environment and nature. If humans cannot survive, what is the use of nature and environment surviving? I always say, if there is sky, sand, stone but no human, then what will you do?”
According to locals, after such statements in early July, administrative laxity became visible. Taking that opportunity, recent massive looting took place in Sada Pathor and Jaflong.
In this context, Shah Shaheda Akter, Sylhet Coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said, when a Divisional Commissioner makes such remarks, no one will have fear anymore, and that is exactly what happened. Looters carried out the looting without hesitation.
She believes the Divisional Commissioner’s remarks helped relax the local administration. She further said, the Divisional Commissioner is a representative of the government. Protecting the environment and nature is his responsibility, but by making remarks belittling the environment he proved that he spoke as a representative of stone businessmen, not the government. Even the statements he made are contempt of court, as the court has clearly prohibited stone extraction. Since the government has already taken the matter seriously by withdrawing the Deputy Commissioner, the Divisional Commissioner also should have been withdrawn in the interest of a fair investigation, she commented.
Abdul Karim Kim, General Secretary of Dharitri Rokkha Andolon (DHORA) Sylhet, said the main person who should be held responsible in this white stone incident is the Divisional Commissioner. His environment-hostile remarks encouraged looters to destroy the environment. But he has been kept in his position. Even the UNO Azizunnahar, whose failure was criticized everywhere, was transferred from Companyganj to the better upazila of Fenchuganj. We did not expect that.
Meanwhile, in the report submitted by the enforcement team of the ACC’s Sylhet integrated office on the stone looting, the Divisional Commissioner’s speech was also mentioned as instigation for the looting. The report stated, “Although stone extraction is officially banned, through his statement he encouraged stone looting. In this case, instead of fulfilling his responsibility of protecting state resources, he played a role in safeguarding the illegal interests of stone-related businessmen, transport workers, and political leaders.”
On Wednesday, while speaking in Companyganj upazila on these issues, Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi said that his remarks can never be considered as instigating looting. He spoke in favoir of legal stone extraction, that too on the basis of expert opinion. He further said that whoever is responsible for this incident, no matter their official rank, will be brought under punishment.
Meanwhile, immediately after taking charge, the new Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, Md. Sarwar Alam, rushed to Sada Pathor. On Thursday afternoon, within hours of assuming duty, he inspected the damaged areas of Sada Pathor and supervised the stone replacement work. He said that steps would be taken to ensure that not a single stone is stolen again from Sada Pathor. Alongside, it would be investigated who were involved in the looting, why, and how such an incident took place. “The people are the strength of the administration, and the people have already taken a stand against this looting,” he said. During the drive, he warned, “If even a single stone is removed, I will make life miserable.”
The Task Force also carried out an operation in Jaflong of Gowainghat upazila to stop illegal sand and stone extraction. From noon to evening on Thursday, under the leadership of Executive Magistrate Farhad Uddin Abir of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the operation was conducted at Jaflong Bridge, Tea Garden area, Jumpara, and Ballaghat River in Jaflong. During the operation, eight engine-driven steel boats loaded with sand and stones, two engine-driven wooden boats, and ten barge boats were sunk in the Piyain River. At the same time, three people involved in illegal sand extraction were arrested and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. SI of Gowainghat police station, camp commander of Songram BOP, a large number of police and BGB personnel participated in the operation.
NCP not involved in white stone looting : After BNP and Jamaat, now NCP has claimed that they are in no way involved in the white stone looting.
On Thursday, the National Citizen Party (NCP) Sylhet district and metropolitan branches made this claim at a press conference. The press conference, held at Sylhet District Press Club auditorium, was attended by NCP Sylhet District’s chief coordinator Nazim Uddin Sahan, Sylhet Metropolitan chief coordinator Abu Sadek Mohammad Khairul Islam Chowdhury, and several party leaders of different levels.
