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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has identified 42 people linked to large-scale stone looting from the popular Sada Pathar tourist zone in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet.
The list includes 20 leaders from the BNP, seven from the Awami League, and two each from Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The commission said its enforcement team conducted raids and investigations that confirmed the involvement of the political leaders.
Both the BNP and Jamaat have denied the allegations and condemned the move, reports bdnews24.com.
The ACC report also flagged evidence of negligence on the part of the Bureau of Mineral Development, the local administration, police, and members of the Border Guard Bangladesh.
It estimates that stones worth several hundred crore taka were illegally extracted from the Sada Pathar area in Bholaganj, a border-adjacent region known for its unique white stone deposits.
The ACC carried out its raid in Bholaganj on Aug 13, following months of investigation into the theft.
Speaking to bdnews24.com on Wednesday afternoon, ACC spokesperson Md Akhtar Hossain said: “The report has been submitted. Since evidence of stone theft has been found, further investigation has been recommended, which has been placed for the commission’s decision.”