Stone extraction: Sylhet DC apologises to HC over non-compliance

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

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kamrul Hossain Mollah refused to accept his apology as he could not give satisfactory explanation on 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 highest bidder Md 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 Islam 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 on January 31 (today) in connection with the rule.

Today, 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.