Sadapathar tourist site leased for six months

SYLHET, Oct 07: The much-talked-about tourist site Sadapathar has been leased to a private individual at about Tk 34.12 million for six months.

Lilu Mia, a stone trader and stone crushing mill owner of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj, was awarded the lease yesterday (Monday) evening.

As many as seven traders/companies contested the bidding, which was held at the Companiganj Upazila Parishad office.

The second highest bidder Nazmul Islam of Companiganj offered Tk 33 million for the same.

The country's renowned tourist site -Sadapathar-- is well-known for having huge stocks of stones and rolling transparent water at Bholaganj border on the foothills of Meghalaya hill region.

The lease of the site remained suspended for about one-and-a-half years following a high court order, according to sources.

Now, the lessee will be allowed to collect tolls from the transports at 'Dosh Number Ghat' parking site of Bholaganj and the Sadapathar Parjaton Kendra area up to 30 Chaitra of 1432 Bengali calendar.

Indiscriminate looting of stones from the site and its neighbouring areas were taking place since August 5 as the administrations remained silent in this regard.

However, things reversed with the government high-ups taking the issue seriously after media reports highlighted all parties' involvements in the lootings.

Several probe bodies under various ministries, including one from the Cabinet Division, had already visited the site while a team of ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) after a spot visit made a report, accusing 52 political leaders and officials for looting and negligence in protecting the natural resources during the last one year.

They include the local BNP president Rezaul Hasan Lodi, city Jamat Amir Fokhrul Islam and former DC Sher Mohammad Mahbub Murad, who has been transferred.

After conducting vigorous drives, some of the looted stones were recovered and seized weeks ago although the drives were not fully successful, sources claimed.

The law-enforcers recently arrested Companiganj Upazila BNP President Shahabuddin, also the district BNP VP (suspended after looting reports), and the AL vice-president also Telikhal union chairman Abdul Wadud Alfu,

Mr. Alfu is wanted in 23 cases, including murder charges, police said.

Actions would be taken against others involved, a police official hinted.

However, the arrests of senior political leaders or activists have raised worries among the people in the areas.

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