Cabinet Division's probe committee begins mass hearing

The cabinet division's probe committee started its mass hearing on stone looting at the Sylhet Circuit House on Wednesday.

Committee convener and cabinet secretary (coordination and reform) Zaheda Parvin and other members were present.

Divisional commissioner, other officials from the district administration, police administrations and upazila officials as well as officials from the environment department made their statements before the probe committee. Besides, representatives of environment activists, Truck Transport Owners Association, and Stone Traders' Organisation gave their statements. The members of committee, which was formed on 20 August and is set file its report in 10 working days, visited the Sadapathar site on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the CID probe committee also began their work on Wednesday, an official said. On the other hand, another probe committee formed by the district administration last week found involvement of 53 people in stone theft, but its report was not made public.

About 2.5 million cubic feet stones has so far been recovered and seized from various places, including illegally operated stone crusher mills, business establishments and even from residential houses in the district, officials said.

Of this, about 0.6 million cubic feet stones have so far been re-deposited on Sadapathar site while 0.7 million cubic feet stones now lying at Ghat No. 10 in Bholaganj would soon be shifted back in the area, said Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam.

Indiscriminate looting of stones started on 5 August last year following the political changeover and took a serious turn in recent months, drawing widespread criticism across the country.

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