A high-powered investigation committee formed by the Cabinet Division has announced that the report on the looting of stones from Sylhet's Sada Pathor area will be made public on Wednesday.
Jaheda Parveen, Secretary (Coordination & Reforms) of the Cabinet Division and the head of the investigation committee, made the statement in response to a journalist's question during a public hearing in Sylhet.
"Our investigation is ongoing. Once it is completed and we submit the report to the authorities, it will be open for all. You will know everything about the stone looting then," said Jaheda Parveen.
The public hearing took place at the Sylhet Circuit House, focusing on the illegal extraction of sand and stones from the Sada Pathor tourist area and the nearby railway bunker zone.
It was organised by the Cabinet Division's high-level investigation committee, which had visited the Sadapathor site in Bholaganj on Tuesday.
Parveen stated, "Our task is to determine whether there was any negligence by responsible authorities in the illegal extraction of stones in Sylhet, and to submit a report with recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future. We visited the site yesterday and spoke with various people. Today, we have spoken with several individuals at the district level, both from government and non-government sectors."
In response to a question, Parveen said, "There are many words in the Bengali language. You used terms like 'looting' and 'mass looting.' I won't use either. When I prepare the report, I'll choose my words very carefully- not based on anyone's suggestion or prescription."
Environmental activist Abdul Karim Kim, who attended the hearing, expressed dissatisfaction with the process.
"We were initially informed that this would be a discussion meeting. Later, it turned into private interviews with individuals by the investigation team. Had we known earlier, we could have come prepared with proper evidence."
During the hearing, environmental groups made several recommendations, including conducting environmental impact assessments of illegal stone extraction, forming a specialised monitoring committee with participation from all stakeholders, and bringing influential individuals involved in the looting under the law.
The hearing repeatedly raised concerns about the administration's inaction, blame-shifting among various groups, and long-standing irregularities. The investigation committee assured that all statements and evidence would be thoroughly reviewed, and a final report with necessary recommendations would be submitted to the Cabinet Division within a short time.
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