Stop illegal use of stone crushers in Sylhet: speakers

Adequate steps must be taken to immediately shut down illegal use of stone crushing machines in Sylhet to protect public health and environment, said speakers yesterday.

They were speaking at a discussion at a seminar hall in Sylhet city. Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (Bela) in association with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency organised the event.

Speakers said a High Court order of January 2017 ordered the government to remove all unauthorised stone crushers from Sylhet and shift those to a separate zone. The order was supposed to be implemented within three months but the administration is yet to do so, they said.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bela, said illegal operation of stone extraction and using such machines must be stopped. There are at least 2,000 stone crushing machines operating in six upazilas of Sylhet. Most are run illegally, she added.

M Kazi Emdadul Islam, deputy commissioner of Sylhet, said, “Bangladesh imports 80 percent of the stones used, but crushing is mostly done in the country. Stone extraction and crushing must be stopped and the country should import stone in crushed form. Workers of this sector should also be rehabilitated.”

Bela Regional Coordinator Shah Shaheda Akhter presented the keynote speech. Bapa Sylhet district unit vice-president Shahidul Islam Sahin also spoke at the event.