HC forms body to inquire into illegal sand extraction from Surma, Kushiara rivers

The High Court has formed a three-member committee to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of illegal sand extraction from Surma and Kushiara rivers in Sylhet's Bianibazar area and to identify the persons responsible in this connection.

The HC on Wednesday also asked the committee to investigate allegations against the local police of releasing 12 trawlers containing illegally extracted sand and stones after those were detained on July 12 this year by local people, and submit the probe report to the court within 30 days.

The committee would be led by the director general of the Department of Environment (DoE), while the two other members of the committee are the director of DoE's Sylhet division and superintendent of police of the district.

The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why their inaction to stop illegal sand extraction from the rivers should not be declared illegal and why they should not be directed to stop the illegal sand extraction from the rivers.                         

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Bianibazar Upazila Chairman Abul Kashem Pallab on August 30 this year seeking necessary directives on the issue.

He said in the petition that a group of influential people are illegally extracting sand and stone from Surma and Kushiara rivers by using heavy machines.

Therefore, the rivers and the environment are being damaged seriously, Abul Kashem said in the petition.

Lawyer Rafsan Al Alvi appeared for the writ petitioner.