Sylhet Correspondent:

When the pristine beauty of Bholaganj's white stones is covered in the darkness of loot, Haji Sahab Uddin, the expelled leader of Companiganj Upazila BNP and suspended district BNP vice-president, has been identified as the 'mastermind' behind that darkness. The police produced him in the court docket on Sunday (September 14) afternoon. At that time, a 5-day remand application was filed in the case filed against him.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Inspector (Court) Md. Jamshed Alam confirmed the matter and said that Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-7 Judge Dhruba Jyoti Pal ordered to send him to jail without a hearing. He said that the date of the remand hearing has not been fixed yet.

In the darkness of last Saturday night, a team of RAB-9 arrested Sahab Uddin from Companiganj based on secret information. He was arrested in a case filed under the Mines and Mineral Resources Control and Development Act and handed over to Kotwali Police Station that night.

A press release sent by RAB-9 said that in the past one year, a large amount of white stone has been illegally extracted from the chests of Companiganj and Gowainghat, which has created a stir and criticism across the country. Sahab Uddin was caught during that operation.

This leader, who has been involved in the stone business for a long time, has also led the Bholaganj Stone Importers Organization. After the political changes, an influential group became active under his shadow. It is alleged that incidents such as the seizure of government land, renting stone palaces, and even the attack on the resort and ropeway bunker next to the Bholaganj highway on August 5 took place under his leadership.

Locals claim that following the attack, his followers openly occupied and looted the Sadapathar area. He is not only accused of looting, but also has seven cases against him. In the wake of these allegations, BNP Central Office suspended all his posts in a notification on August 11. The notification was signed by the party's Central Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

The notification said that he has been relieved of all organizational responsibilities as he was involved in activities that are against the party's principles and ideals, including extortion and encroachment.

It is worth noting that Bholaganj - where the silent beauty of white stones attracts travelers, has been scarred by uncontrolled looting in the last one year. The heartbreaking cry of the environment has found a place in the pages of local and national media. And that voice has forced the law enforcement agencies to embark on the campaign.