Sada Pathor looting: Many return stones in Bholaganj after ultimatum
A recovery drive is also underway
Following the district administration's ultimatum on the looting of white stones in Sylhet, many people have begun returning the stones on their own initiative.
Yesterday, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam ordered that all looted stones must be returned by Tuesday evening (26 August). Since then, traders have been transporting the stones back to the Sada Pathor tourist area at their own expense, using trucks.
Kazi Farhad Hossain, a stone crusher mill trader from the Dhopagul area of Sylhet Sadar Upazila, said he had purchased stones three months ago but has not bought any since. In compliance with the DC's order, he returned all the stones from his mill to Sada Pathor.
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A recovery drive is also underway, with authorities overseeing the process of returning the stones to the tourist spot.
Sylhet Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khushnoor Rubaiyat said at least 100 trucks of stones were delivered to Sada Pathor between midnight Saturday and noon Sunday.
Some businessmen from Dhopagul took the initiative to return their collected white stones voluntarily.
Executive magistrates and law enforcement officers are monitoring the situation, while public announcements via loudspeakers continue to urge the return of looted stones.
The district administration had earlier issued a public notice yesterday, instructing that all stones taken from Sada Pathor in Bholaganj of Companiganj upazila be returned by Tuesday evening at the owners' own expense, warning that strict action would follow for non-compliance.
Sylhet DC Sarwar Alam said many people are still hiding stones in Companiganj and Sylhet Sadar upazilas.
A meeting was held with local public representatives and businessmen to facilitate recovery, resulting in three key decisions.
The decisions include anyone still possessing white stones must return them to the Bholaganj Sada Pathor area by 5pm on Tuesday, at their own initiative and expense.
Sarwar Alam stated that action will also be taken against public representatives if stones are found in their areas after the deadline.
