BNP affiliate leaders led protest blocking advisers’ convoy in Sylhet, Jubo Dal leader expelled
Sources within the party said disciplinary actions will also be taken against other local BNP and affiliated leaders involved in the incident
The BNP has expelled a Jubo Dal youth leader in Sylhet's Gowainghat upazila following a protest that blocked the convoy of two advisers in Jaflong.
Sources within the party said disciplinary actions will also be taken against other local BNP and affiliated leaders involved in the incident.
The expelled leader is Jahid Khan, joint convener of the upazila BNP youth wing.
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A statement signed by Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan, central assistant secretary of the Jubo Dal, confirmed Jahid's expulsion.
Mominul Islam, president of Sylhet district Jubo Dal, said this morning that Jahid was expelled for participating in the protest that obstructed the advisers' convoy.
Yesterday, during a visit to the Jaflong tourist area, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, adviser on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, faced protests from stone businessmen and workers.
On their way back, protesters blocked the advisers' convoy in Ballaghat area of Gowainghat. Reportedly, local leaders from BNP-affiliated organisations – including Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Sramik Dal – led the demonstration.
The protesters demanded the reopening of stone quarries in Jaflong and Sylhet, which have been closed. The advisers were able to leave the area only after police intervention cleared the protesters.
A video of the protest shows Aziz Uddin, president of Purbo Jaflong union Chhatra Dal, leading slogans while blocking the convoy.
Other local leaders involved in leading the protest include Suman Shikdar, senior vice-president of the union Chhatra Dal; Sohel Ahmad, general secretary of the district Chhatra Dal; Abdul Jalil, president of the upazila Sramik Dal; Abdus Salam, joint general secretary; Ramzan Molla, religious affairs secretary; and Jahid Khan, joint convener of the upazila Jubo Dal.
Regarding the convoy blockade, Chhatra Dal leader Aziz said, "What we did was in the interest of the local community."
Regarding the involvement of Chhatra Dal leaders, Delwar Hossain, general secretary of the Sylhet district Chhatra Dal, said that evidence has been found linking several local leaders to the protest. He added that the matter has been reported to the central committee, and organisational action may be taken against those involved.
Illegal quarrying causes extensive damage in Jaflong
On 14 2015, a government gazette officially declared Jaflong an environmentally critical area. Following this, the leasing of sand and stone quarries in Jaflong was gradually suspended in several phases.
On 11 January 2016, the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources designated Jaflong as a "geological heritage" site, declaring 22.59 acres of the area protected. Plans were announced to establish an internationally standard geological museum on this land.
However, since August 5 last year, due to the absence of law enforcement, extensive illegal quarrying has resulted in the disappearance of nearly 10 million cubic feet of stone. Since then, sand and stone theft has continued unchecked in Jaflong, with local businessmen and workers demanding quarry lease renewals.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Jaflong yesterday morning, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "This area is environmentally critical. We have discussed with the Ministry of Tourism about developing eco-friendly tourism here and providing alternative livelihoods for those involved in stone extraction."
Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, also expressed concern over environmental destruction caused by illegal quarrying in Jaflong. He told reporters, "Illegal extraction has severely damaged the area. No further permission will be granted for stone quarrying here. All crusher machines must be removed, and if necessary, electricity connections will be cut off."
