Local Administration Complicit in Stone Looting Incident: Environment Adviser

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser on Environment, Forest and Climate Change as well as Water Resources, has commented that there was either complicity or silence on the part of the local administration in the large-scale looting of valuable white mineral stones from the renowned tourist destination, Bholaganj, in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet.

She made this remark to journalists on Sunday (17 August) at the Secretariat during a press briefing.

The Environment Adviser stated, “In the case of the stone looting incident in Sylhet, the local administration was either complicit or remained silent. Action will be taken against the administration in this matter. A decision on this will be reached swiftly.”

She further informed that work on the Teesta Mega Project with China will commence in January. The project will span ten years. She highlighted that the primary objectives of this initiative are to tackle river erosion, control flooding, and retain water during the dry season.

In response to a question from a journalist, the Adviser said, “I am not aware of any written directive instructing foreign missions to remove the President’s photograph. This matter has neither been discussed in the Advisory Council nor any decision made in this regard. However, it has no connection to the election.”

Regarding the upcoming election, Syeda Rizwana Hasan remarked, “The claim that there will be no election in February is merely the opinion of a political party. However, as announced by the Chief Adviser, the election will indeed take place in February.”