Committee formed to review stone quarry leasing in Sylhet, Sunamganj: Home minister
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (7 May) announced that the government has formed a high-level committee to explore the possibility of allowing limited stone extraction in selected areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj, while ensuring environmental protection and maintaining law and order.
The announcement was made after a meeting on the current status and actions required regarding stone and sand-mixed stone quarries in the Sylhet Division. The meeting, chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka.
Salahuddin said the committee will be led by the Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet and will include representatives from the Sylhet and Sunamganj district administrations, the Department of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB), a professor from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), and a director from the Mineral Resources Department.
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Police superintendents from both districts will also be included in the committee to ensure law enforcement.
The committee's responsibilities will include conducting on-site inspections, reviewing water barriers caused by siltation in the border rivers, and assessing the potential risks from river erosion.
Additionally, it will provide technical advice on the depth and method of stone extraction, ensuring it is done while maintaining environmental integrity.
The committee will also focus on the protection of tourist spots such as Bichanakandi, Sada Pathor, and Bholaganj.
Areas like Jaflong, which are designated as Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA), will be exempt from this extraction process.
The committee is expected to submit its report by the end of this month, and a final decision will be made in the first week of June.
Additionally, pending cases related to the issue will be fast-tracked through the Ministry of Law.
Regarding ongoing operations against extortionists and godfathers, the minister said, "No one is above the law. Joint and individual operations are being carried out based on specific lists. Arrests are being made of drug dealers, terrorists, and weapon holders, and punishments are being ensured through Summary Courts."
He said visible progress is being made in these operations and that the full impact will soon be felt across the country.
