Stone supply from Bholaganj stops as AL enforces strike

Stone supply to Sylhet and other parts of the country from Bholaganj stone quarry in Companiganj upazila came to a halt yesterday morning due to an indefinite strike enforced in the upazila by the local unit of Awami League.

The AL unit called the strike to press its demand for stopping illegal extraction of stones from the quarry by using motorised machines, locally called boma machines, and saving the nearby railway land (ropeway site).

Upazila AL Joint Secretary Humayun Kabir said an organised group is extracting stones illegally in the area.  They are also using mechanised tools at the quarry, violating the High court order and Section 144 imposed on the ropeway site, Kabir added.

He blamed the district AL Publicity Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman and upazila chairman's son Shamim Ahmed for extracting stones illegally.

“We had earlier informed the authorities concerned of the matter, but to no effect,” upazila AL President Md Ali Amzad said, adding that they enforced the strike to mount pressure on the authorities concerned to take steps to stop such illegal acts at the stone quarry.

Contacted, AL leader Mahfuzur Rahman refuted the allegation, saying that the upazila AL president, general secretary and others are directly involved with illegal extraction of stones from the quarry.

Upazila Chairman Abdul Basir said his son is no way involved with such illegal act. He urged the officials concerned to take actions against the persons involved.

Companiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Rukon Uddin said they have already requested the upazila AL president and general secretary to call off the strike.  At least 2500 trucks carry stones from the quarry to Sylhet and different parts of the country through the 37-km-long Sylhet-Companiganj-Bholaganj road everyday, while more than 30,000 labourers work there.