Joint forces seize 35,000 cubic feet of stones in Sylhet, including loot from ‘Sada Pathor’

A joint operation led by the district administration has seized around 35,000 cubic feet of looted stones, including those taken from the "Sada Pathor" area from various locations in Sylhet.

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Sylhet Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Farjana Akter Mita said since last night, around 130 vehicles have been checked at different checkpoints.

"Stones from Sada Pathor were found in about 70 of those vehicles and steps have been taken to return the stones to the respective areas."

According to the district administration sources, the stones — found in around 70 trucks — will be returned to the rivers in the Sada Pathor and Jaflong areas.

ADM Mita stressed that the drives would continue to protect natural resources and the environment.

"No one involved in illegal extraction, stockpiling, or smuggling of stones will be spared," she said.

Yesterday (13 August), a separate operation in Sada Pathor led to the recovery of about 12,000 cubic feet of stones, which were later restored to the site, said Companiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Azizunnahar.

"The recovered stones were then redistributed across the Sada Pathor tourist site and different parts of the Dholai River," she added.

On Wednesday, in the wake of the looting at Sada Pathor tourist site, the district administration formed a three-member inquiry committee, headed by Sylhet Additional Deputy Commissioner Padmasan Singha, which has been tasked with submitting its report by 17 August.

Meanwhile, police have arrested the Union Parishad Chairman of Purbo Islampur, Md Alomgir Alom, who also serves as the Krishak Dal upazila president, amid widespread controversy surrounding the looting of stones.

Companiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Uzair Al Mahmud Adnan said the chairman was detained at around 5am today. However, the exact charges have yet to be disclosed.