Two advisers of the interim government on Saturday faced demonstration of the people at Ballaghat area of Jaflong in Sylhet for their comment that no more quarries would be opened for extracting stones and sand in Sylhet region, including Jaflong.
People of the area stopped the car of water resources and environment, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and power, energy and mineral resources adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan while they were returning after inspecting an ecologically critical area and tourist spot, Jaflong, in the district.聽
The protesters demanded immediate opening of all stone quarries in Sylhet and forced the car carrying the two advisers to keep stranded there for several minutes, said people of the area.
Later, the advisers鈥� car started running towards Sylhet city after an intervention by the administration, they said.
Syeda Rizwana and Fouzul Kabir talked to journalists after visiting the Jaflong ECA area.
Responding to a question, Rizwana said that the government would not lease or open any more stone quarries in Sylhet.
鈥楶lans are being made to revamp the Jaflong tourist centre. If this is done, alternative scope of employment will be created for the stone quarry workers in the region,鈥� she said, adding that legal action had already been taken against those who illegally extracted sand and stones from the Jaflong ECA area.
She also warned that strict action would be taken if anyone involved in such illegal activities in the future.
Fouzul Kabir said that the environment of Jaflong and its surrounding areas was being destroyed due to illegal extraction of stones. 鈥楳any people have illegally installed stone crusher machines here. Power connections to the illegally installed stone crushers will be disconnected and these will also be evicted.鈥�
Following the comments of the advisers, people of the area, especially those involved in stones extracting, became angry, people of the area added.
Meanwhile, green organisation Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan protested against the blocking of car of the advisers.
BAPA president Nur Mohammad Talukder and general secretary Alamgir Kabir appreciated the advisers for their efforts to protect environment of the ECA.
