Stone looting frenzy in Sylhet threatens top tourist spots
In the first three days after the government collapsed, nearly Tk200 crore worth of stones were stolen from these quarries, and the looting is still ongoing
Summary:
- Widespread looting followed the govt's fall on 5 August
- In 2016, Ministry of Mineral Resources issued a directive to halt stone extraction
- Looting persists despite govt raids and legal actions
- Business owners, workers protest ongoing stone extraction ban
- Environmental activists oppose resuming stone extraction to protect tourist sites
After Sheikh Hasina's government fell on 5 August, looters took advantage of lax law and order to steal stones from two popular tourist spots in Sylhet—Jaflong in Gowainghat upazila and Sada Pathor in Companiganj upazila.
In the first three days after the government collapsed, nearly Tk200 crore worth of stones were stolen from these quarries, and the looting is still ongoing.
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According to locals, influential figures employed hundreds of workers to extract stones around the clock, severely damaging these tourist areas.
Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Towhidul Islam said, "For the first three days after the government's fall, law enforcement agencies were mostly inactive. During this period, stones worth around Tk120 crore were looted from Jaflong."
Companiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abida Sultana said, "Stones worth Tk20 crore were stolen from Sada Pathor, and another Tk20 crore worth of stones were taken from Shah Arefin Tila."
However, locals claim that the total value of the stones looted from the two quarries is not Tk140 crore but over Tk200 crore.
To protect the environment and preserve tourist attractions, the Ministry of Mineral Resources issued a directive in 2016 to stop stone extraction. In 2012, a 15 sq km area, including Jaflong's Piyain River, was declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
A related gazette warned, "The indiscriminate and unplanned extraction of stones and other activities have jeopardised the ecosystem of Jaflong-Dawki River, which is expected to worsen in the future… Any extraction of stones or other mineral resources using mechanical, manual, or any other means is strictly prohibited within the ECA."
As a result of the ministry's prohibition, stone extraction was halted for several years, leading to a significant accumulation of stones at the source points of the Piyain River in Jaflong and the Dhalai River in Sada Pathor. These naturally deposited stones have recently boosted tourism in both areas.
UNO Towhidul Islam said, "Jaflong is one of the country's top tourist destinations. The uncontrolled extraction of sand and stones has not only damaged the beauty of the area but also harmed the environment. Extracting any type of sand or stones from Jaflong, which is declared an ECA, is strictly prohibited.
"However, despite the ban, some people continue to extract sand and stones, causing environmental damage. We are conducting regular raids against them."
To stop the looting, law enforcement agencies are carrying out regular raids in areas like Jaflong, Sada Pathor, Lovchhara, Bholaganj, and Shah Arefin Tila, and seizing stolen stones.
Two local stone traders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the looting is still ongoing. Every day, hundreds of trucks are transporting stones from Jaflong and Sada Pathor. Despite the administration's raids, only a small amount of the looted stones is being seized.
One of them added, "If you visit Jaflong now, all you will see are trucks. The entire area is covered in dust from the trucks. Not only are there no tourists, but locals are also struggling to walk because of the dust."
On 6 November, during a press conference at the Sylhet District Press Club, one Mohammad Ismail Hossain from Jaflong accused influential political leaders of supporting the ongoing stone looting.
Local sources said that most of those involved in looting sand and stones from two quarries are connected to the BNP.
After evidence of illegal sand and stone extraction from the Piyain River surfaced, Rofikul Islam Shahporan, the former member of the Zila Parishad and joint secretary of the District BNP, lost his party position.
Several other BNP leaders have also been linked to the stone looting, including Shah Alam Swapan, the recently removed chairman of the Gowainghat Upazila Parishad and former treasurer of the District BNP, and Amjad Box, the president of the East Jaflong Union BNP.
The Department of Environment has filed two cases against these three BNP leaders, along with 114 others, for their involvement in the looting. One case was filed with the Gowainghat police station, and another with the Environmental Court.
Four more cases have been filed over the looting of stones and sand, three at Gowainghat police station and one at Companiganj police station. However, the main culprits are still at large.
Sylhet's Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, said, "Cases have been filed at police stations regarding the stone looting, and the police are working to arrest those responsible. Regular operations are also being conducted to stop the looting."
Protests erupt over stone extraction ban
Meanwhile, since the ban on stone extraction, business owners and workers have been protesting to have it lifted. The previous government ignored their demands, but after the new government took power, protests resumed.
On 23 October, a large human chain was organised in Jaflong to support the cause, with participation from various stone business owners and worker associations.
Anwar Hossain Khan Anu, convener of the Jaflong Business, Worker, and Social Unity Council, voiced strong support for resuming stone extraction. He said, "Millions of people across the country depend on the extraction, collection, and supply of stones from Jaflong and other quarries for their livelihoods.
"With the quarries closed, both workers and business owners have suffered significant losses, and many in the industry are now unemployed."
He also argued that stone extraction benefits the environment. "Every year, large amounts of stones from India accumulate here due to flooding. Since extraction has stopped, the river's source is blocked, causing frequent floods in Sylhet. Resuming stone extraction is essential to prevent these floods and protect the environment," Anu added.
However, environmental activists in Sylhet oppose the demands of business owners to resume stone extraction from local quarries. They have called for maintaining the ban, enforcing Ecologically Critical Area regulations in Jaflong, and regulating stone-crushing machines.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) even submitted a memorandum to the Sylhet deputy commissioner outlining these demands.
Shah Saheda Akhter, BELA's divisional coordinator in Sylhet, said, "Since 5 August, looting has stripped Jaflong and Sada Pathor of their stones. Now, business owners are demanding the resumption of stone extraction. If their demands are met, these tourist spots will turn to rubble once again."
Ashraful Kabir, coordinator of the environmental group Bhumi Santan Bangladesh, argued that Sylhet's quarries produce too few stones to meet local demand.
"Most stones are imported from India, so the claim that reopening quarries would stop imports is false," he said. "While reopening the quarries may benefit a few financially, it will cause significant harm to the country."
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahmud Murad said, "The decision to reopen stone quarries rests with higher levels of government. As of now, no decision has been made."
"Strict action will be taken against anyone illegally extracting stones," he added.
