Staff Correspondent
The investigation committee formed by the district administration into the stone looting incident in Companiganj, Sylhet, has submitted its report. The seven-page report includes a list of individuals involved in the crime, which features the names of leaders from various political parties, including the BNP, Awami League, Jamaat, and NCP. The report was submitted to the District Commissioner on Wednesday afternoon by the committee head, Additional District Commissioner (Development and HRM) Padmasen Singha.
The looting occurred on a massive scale in the Bholaganj area of Sylhet following the change in government last year. The report states that approximately 40 lakh cubic feet of stone were stolen in just one year, including about 10 lakh cubic feet of highly valuable white stone. The report is also sharply critical of administrative failures and the role of law enforcement agencies in preventing these illegal activities.
The investigation report identifies 42 individuals involved in the stone looting, including local political leaders, businessmen, and some corrupt officials within the administration itself. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already confirmed these involvements in its own inquiry. The report recommends taking strict legal action and bringing the guilty to justice swiftly.
Sylhet’s Divisional Commissioner Khan Mohammad Reza-un-Nabi stated that strict action would also be taken against any administration officials found to be involved in the stone looting. He further revealed that the process of establishing a new BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) battalion in the Sylhet sector is underway to normalize the overall law and order situation in the border areas.
Local residents and environmental activists demand strong government action to stop the long-running stone looting. They fear that due to the involvement of influential individuals, the case might face challenges in receiving a proper investigation without political interference. The administration’s future actions are now the primary focus.