Illegal Stone Extraction: Two killed in landslide

Two labourers were killed and another was injured in a landslide while they were extracting stone in Jaflong area of Sylhet's Gowainghat yesterday afternoon.

They are Kamruzzaman, son of Madris Ali of Telikhal village in Companiganj upazila, and Tajuddin, son of Jiadur Rahman of the same village.

The injured, Abdur Rashid, of Companiganj upazila, was admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

Police detained seven people, including stone "quarry owner" Dulal Ahmed, in connection with illegal stone extraction.

Locals said the workers were extracting stone from the quarry illegally and the landslide happened around 4:30pm.

Contacted, Salauddin Ahmed, Gowainghat upazila nirbahi officer, said stone extraction is completely banned in any quarry of Jaflong. But "the owner" was extracting stone from his quarry illegally.  

The upazila administration was looking into the matter seriously, the UNO added.

Earlier this year, at least 13 workers were killed in landslides during illegal stone extraction in Companiganj, Gowainghat and Kanaighat upazilas of Sylhet.