Another stone extraction worker killed
Another worker died in a landslide while he along with other labourers was extracting stones from a hillock in Sylhet's Companiganj upazila yesterday.
The dead is Faruk Mia, 40, of Chatkunabazar village in the upazila, said Altaf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Companiganj Police Station.
With Faruk, at least 13 workers have died in landslides while lifting stones illegally from different quarries in the upazila in the last two months.
Faruk died around 11:30am. The incident happened in a quarry in Utmachhara area, said Nasrin Jahan Fatema, vice-chairman of the upazila.
She said the quarry is controlled by an influential local, Hashim Mia. Abul Hossain, president of Companiganj Press Club, said the same.
Hashim, however, could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts.
Contacted, Abul Layes, upazila nirbahi officer, said they raided the spot after the incident. They, however, did not find anyone there.
Mostafizur Rahman, assistant director of the Department of Environment, said, “Action would be taken following investigation”.
Talking to this correspondent, several locals said a group of traders has been extracting stones illegally from different quarries in the district for long, leading to accidents and subsequent deaths of workers.
“Indiscriminate stone extraction can trigger landslide any moment,” Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), Sylhet chapter, said.
Nasrin Jahan Fatema said despite being well aware of the risks, workers dug the quarries because they need money to feed themselves and their families.
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