Another death at illegal stone extraction site in Sylhet

Another worker died during extracting stones as he was hit by an excavator at a stone quarry of Jaflong in Gowainghat, Sylhet yesterday morning.

Fourteen other workers have died in separate incidents in last two months as extraction of stones using dredgers from the Pyan river continues unabated ignoring a government ban.

Yesterday's deceased was identified as Mustakim Mia, 20, of Isoppur village in Baniarchang upazila of Habiganj.

The excavator hit him when he was extracting stones in Jumpara area around 8:30am, said Md Jahangir Hossain, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Gowainghat police.

Locals allege a number of politically influential people are making a quick buck on stones and are badly affecting the environment.

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, Sylhet chapter, said major landslides may occur anytime, as mechanical extractors like dredgers are extracting stones from the river and adjacent areas at depths of 60-70 feet, creating a hollow underground.

“The locals dare not protest against this harmful and illegal act fearing harassment by the stone lifters as they are linked with political parties,” said Joynal Abedin, a resident of Jaflong and a rights activist. He added local administration and police should take stern action against the stone lifting.

Speaking anonymously, a dredger owner said each machine can lift 10,000 square feet of stones a day. He added they run the dredgers at night to avoid the mobile courts.

Admitting illegal extraction of stones, Md Suhel Mahmud, upazila nirbahi officer of Gowainghat, said he was conducting drives at night against it in addition to separate drives by police and border guards.

Abdul Hakim Chowdhury, chairman of Gowainghat Upazila Parishad, said several deep large holes had been created in the rivers thanks to unplanned stone lifting.

“We have already announced in the area that unauthorised extraction or sales of stones will be severely dealt with,” he added.

Mostafizur Rahman, assistant director of the Department of Environment, told this correspondent they cannot stop the business due mainly to shortage of workforce.