Stone Extraction from River: Sylhet DC apologises to HC

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner M Kazi Emdadul Islam yesterday apologised unconditionally to the High Court for not complying with its order over giving permission to the highest bidder for extraction of stones from the Lava river in the district.

The HC bench of Justice Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kamrul Hossain Mollah refused to accept his apology as he could not give a satisfactory explanation to his act.

During hearing a contempt of court petition, the bench ordered DC Emdadul to further appear before it on February 28 in connection with the issue.

Petitioner's lawyer Sheikh Awsafur Rahman Bulu told The Daily Star that the HC on October 1, 2020, directed the DC of Sylhet to award the work of stone extraction to the highest bidder Nizam Uddin.

But, the DC did not act in line with the HC order.

Nizam Uddin then filed a contempt of court petition with the HC against DC Emdadul for not complying with the order.

Following the petition, the HC on January 7 this year issued a contempt of court rule asking the DC to explain in 15 days why he should not be punished for violating its order.

The court also asked the DC to appear before the HC bench yesterday in connection with the rule.

Yesterday, the DC appeared before the HC bench and prayed for exoneration from the rule, the lawyer said.

Lawyer Awsafur Rahman, however, could not say details of the case and about the lawyer for DC Emdadul.