A stone labourer has died following a catastrophic sand collapse at the Bholaganj Ropeway bunker in Companyganj Upazila, Sylhet. The incident occurred on Monday, 13 April, during an attempt to extract stones from the site, which has reportedly been reduced to a dilapidated state due to persistent and unregulated mining activities.
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Incident Details and Victim Profile
The deceased has been identified as Fayzur Rahman, aged 28. He was the son of Ahmad Ali, a resident of Puran Meghargaon village within the Purbo Islampur Union of Companyganj Upazila.
According to local sources and police documentation, Rahman was part of a group of labourers who frequently visited the Bholaganj Ropeway bunker area for stone collection. On the afternoon of 13 April, he accompanied several others to the site to excavate pits for stone extraction.
Chronology of the Accident
The labour intensive process was interrupted on Monday evening by the arrival of a Kalbaishakhi storm (a seasonal Nor’wester). The severe weather conditions forced the workers to seek shelter, leaving them temporarily stranded at the site.
At approximately 8:00 PM, once the storm had subsided, the workers resumed their excavation within the deep pits. During this period, the saturated and unstable sand walls of the pit suddenly collapsed, burying Fayzur Rahman beneath a significant volume of debris.
His fellow labourers initiated an immediate rescue effort and succeeded in pulling him out from under the sand. Given the severity of his injuries, he was first transported to the nearby Dayar Bazar to receive treatment from a village doctor (Pallichikitsak). As his clinical condition became critical, he was transferred late that night to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing medical treatment.
Official Statements and Legal Action
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Companyganj Police Station, Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan, confirmed the veracity of the incident. He stated that the local authorities have officially recorded the event and filed a case of unnatural death (UD case) in connection with the fatality.
Summary of the Incident
| Category | Information |
| Victim Name | Fayzur Rahman |
| Age | 28 Years |
| Father’s Name | Ahmad Ali |
| Location | Bholaganj Ropeway Bunker, Companyganj |
| Date of Incident | 13 April (Monday) |
| Primary Cause | Sand collapse during stone excavation |
| Medical Facility | Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital |
| Legal Status | Unnatural death case registered |
Structural Concerns at Bholaganj
The Bholaganj Ropeway, a key piece of industrial infrastructure, has faced significant structural degradation. Unregulated digging around the bunker foundations has compromised the integrity of the area. The risk of such accidents is notably higher during the Kalbaishakhi season, as heavy rainfall further destabilises the loose sand and soil layers, making manual excavation in deep pits exceptionally hazardous for local workers.