Mechanised stone extraction protested in Panchagarh

Rock and Sand Traders and Suppliers Association of Panchagarh organised the meeting chaired by its president Amanullah Bachchu. Five rock trading organisations extended support to the association.

Speakers threatened to paralyse the entire Panchagarh district if the concerned authorities failed to curb illogical rock extraction in Tentulia upazila with immediate effect.

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They urged the traders and workers not to do loading and unloading of rock as well as resisting plying of rock-laden trucks to other parts of the country from Panchagarh.

In the meeting, association secretary Anwar Hossain said that cinema villain Dipzol had come to Tentulia to take lease of a rock quarry in the name of one Khandker Obaidur Rahman on February 9. At that time Dipzol claimed to possess documents of the Ministry of Mineral Resources. In face of local people's resistance, Dipzol and his men retreated although they threatened to stage a comeback in near future, he said.

While addressing, association president Amanullah Bachchu expressed his dissatisfaction saying how could anybody obtain permission of the concerned ministry for extraction of rocks in spite of an official ban.

The association members also staged a demonstration at Shalbahar village in Tentulia.

Local rock traders alleged that, at least 2,000 metric tons of rock are extracted with 15 dredging machines in a day which may cause landslide on the spot.

When contacted, Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Azhar Ali said the district administration banned usage of dredger machine at rock extraction sites. A few machines were also seized, he said.

Sources said, the ban on extraction of rock by dredging machine in Panchagarh was issued in 1994. After conducting an environmental assessment, a committee recommended the ban.