Inside the 20-year stone looting spree at Sylhet’s tourist sites
Widespread illegal stone looting in Sylhet’s Shada Pathor and Jaflong since August 2024 has devastated the environment
Though photos and videos circulating on Facebook have only recently led to widespread discussion about the looting of stones in Sylhet's Shada Pathor, the tourist spot did not become devoid of its primary attraction overnight; it is a result of a 20 year plundering.
Furthermore, the looting is not limited to Shada Pathor alone. According to estimates, stones worth nearly Tk3,000 crore have been looted from Jaflong, Shada Pathor, and other sites in Sylhet over the past 20 years.
Environmental activists claim that after 5 August 2024, lapses in police oversight allowed stone looting to spread across the district's quarries, namely Jaflong, Bichanakandi, Bholaganj, Shah Arefin Tila, the railway's reserved bunker area, Utmachhara, and Lobhachhara.
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Except for Arefin Tila, the stones in these areas originate from hilly rivers across the border in India. Annual floods carry stones and sand downstream, gradually accumulating them in these locations over the years.
Now, after 20 years of plundering, many of these sites are almost completely devoid of stones.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, said, "Looting of stones have been happening in Sylhet for at least the last two decades following which the High Court directed to declare the Jaflong are as 'ecologically critical area'. It took the then administration five long years to declare Jaflong as ECA. After that, prolonged advocacy led to prohibition on stone extraction which the stone traders wished to lift by filing at least 11 applications with the court."
"Thankfully, all those applications were turned down and stone lifting, at least in broad day light, stopped in all stone queries of Sylhet. After August, looting restarted and due to tremendous pressure and resistance from almost all political parties, the administration failed to perform. There was reluctance and passive support as well. Public outcry about the looting and the looters have now led to action but we have to remember these rivers and streams are our national assets," she added.
"We need to preserve them for the future generation. What we now need to do is to ensure justice and also to ensure that all touristic places with pristine beauty are well protected and barred from all future exploration. My ministry will propose to declare them ECAs just as we have done in Jaflong. Hope we manage to prepare a master plan for the whole area and only promote ecotourism there. The beauty of these spots cannot be sacrificed for the greed of a few," she noted.
Ban on stone extraction
The Bureau of Mineral Resources Development had designated the aforementioned eight areas as quarries and leased them for extraction.
However, leaseholders often mined outside these areas using explosive excavation, creating large pits that threatened rivers, hillocks, tea gardens, and settlements. Poor safety measures also led to the deaths of at least 120 workers.
Due to the severe human, environmental, and ecological damage, authorities then banned stone extraction from Sylhet's quarries in 2016. Despite this, until 2020, all quarries, except protected areas, were still leased, but no new leases have been issued since then.
Illegal extraction, however, continued, allegedly under the protection of local Awami League leaders. But the government was able to prevent large-scale stone looting.
5 August 2024: Stone looting resumes
After four years of halted extraction and limited looting, stones had begun to accumulate again in the scenic areas of Sylhet, restoring some of their natural beauty.
However, after the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, large-scale stone looting began, exploiting administrative inaction. Allegations surfaced of involvement by BNP leaders at district and upazila levels. Thousands of workers openly extracted stones, transporting them by trucks and boats.
Some public officials were also accused of complicity. Brief government-led operations against stone extraction and crushing mills were halted due to political opposition.
During this period, political leaders across parties showed unusual consensus in support of stone extraction, and looting intensified further.
Looting began in Jaflong
Jaflong, in Gowainghat upazila, Sylhet, is a major domestic tourist destination near the Khasi-Jainta hills along the India-Bangladesh border. Stone looting had severely threatened its environment, prompting the government to declare it an Environmentally Critical Area (ECA) in February 2020 and halt all extraction activities.
But on the night of 5 August 2024, stone looting in Jaflong resumed without restriction.
Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) in Sylhet, noted that even during the Awami League's tenure, extensive looting occurred, but halting extraction toward the end partially restored the river's stones and Jaflong's natural beauty.
"After 5 August, the scale of destruction has been catastrophic," he said.
He added that last year's plundering far exceeds the total looting in Sylhet over the past 15 years, and authorities have failed to stop it. Reports indicate that immediately after Sheikh Hasina's government fell, BNP and allied groups took control of Jaflong's stone quarries, under whose patronage thousands of workers began extracting stones openly. Despite suspended leases, stone extraction using bomb machines and excavators continues day and night.
I would not call the administration a failure. Success or failure depends on effort. But the administration has taken no initiative to stop the looting. They have remained indifferent, and in some cases, even provided support.
No more 'shada pathor' at Shada Pathor
Shada Pathor, a 15-acre tourist site in Bholaganj upazila of Sylhet, is renowned for its river stones, which attract thousands of domestic and international visitors daily. The flowing water over numerous small and large stones is the main draw. However, recent looting has left the area almost barren.
Operations by the joint forces initially slowed it, but when heavy rains and floods in April brought new stones, extraction resumed in June this year. By July, extensive plundering had transformed Shada Pathor into a desolate area.
Local residents report that whereas stones were once stolen at night, stones worth crores are now being taken openly during the day. They blame administrative failure and complicity for allowing the looting to continue.
While visiting the area on 13 August, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) placed the blame on public administration officials.
Rafi Md Najmus Sadat, deputy director of ACC Sylhet, said local authorities should have been more vigilant, and agencies like the Bureau of Mineral Resources Development must help prevent looting. He added that nearby stone-crusher mills, influential locals, residents, and high-level businessmen are reportedly involved, and further investigation will follow.
Who is behind the looting?
White stone extraction in various areas is carried out by hired workers who store the stones in rivers and surrounding sites, to be later purchased by businessmen. While workers handle extraction, political leaders from different parties reportedly provide support and shelter.
Shahab Uddin, president of Companiganj upazila BNP, has been linked to the looting, though he denies involvement. Some of his relatives are also allegedly involved. The BNP central committee suspended him on Monday over these allegations.
Other local BNP leaders are also allegedly involved in the illegal stone extraction.
Earlier on 14 June, when Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan visited Jaflong's Environmentally Critical Area (ECA), their convoy was blocked by protesters demanding the reopening of stone quarries. Video footage shows several leaders of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Sramik Dal among the demonstrators.
Zahid Khan, Gowainghat upazila Jubo Dal Joint convener was expelled from the party that night.
District BNP General Secretary Emran Ahmad Chowdhury stated that no party member involved is being spared, noting that many commit crimes under the party's name, and the administration has been requested to act against them.
'No initiative from administration'
Shah Shaheda Akhter, Sylhet coordinator of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said, "I would not call the administration a failure. Success or failure depends on effort. But the administration has taken no initiative to stop the looting. They have remained indifferent, and in some cases, even provided support."
On Monday, Companiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Uzair Mahmud Adnan stated, "Whenever we hear about white stone looting, a special task force conducts raids under the magistrate's leadership. We provide police support and patrol regularly. What else can we do?"
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sher Md Mahbub Murad said raids are conducted daily, yet plundering continues.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Haque, commander of the 48 BGB Battalion, added, "This area (Shada Pathor) belongs to the district administration. BGB's main task is border security, followed by anti-smuggling and coordination with law enforcement. Within 150 yards of the border, the BGB oversees activities. You will notice that within 150 yards at Shada Pathor or Jaflong, no stone looting has occurred."
Environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan echoed this helplessness. On 26 July in Dhaka, she said, "For the past four years, we have been able to prevent stone extraction in Jaflong. Now, as an adviser, I have not been able to stop it. I have watched a uniquely beautiful place like Jaflong being destroyed before my eyes."
She also added, "Administrative initiatives alone cannot stop stone looting. Political will is necessary. But instead, we see an all-party consensus in favour of stone extraction, which is truly discouraging."
Rizwana Hasan also noted that 94% of Bangladesh's stone demand is met through imports, with only 6% coming from domestic sources.
"If we can import 94%, why can't we import the remaining 6%?" she added.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), during the 2024–25 fiscal year, nearly 9.5 million tonnes of stone were imported, valued at around Tk16 billion. Most of the construction sector's demand is satisfied through imports, while the remaining domestic demand comes primarily from the Midpara Hard Rock Project in Dinajpur and Sylhet's quarries.
Experts note that Sylhet's stones are of higher quality than imported ones. In Sylhet, stone sells for Tk60–150 per cubic foot, depending on size and type.
Assurances of restoring Shada Pathor to its former state
After extensive looting left Shada Pathor nearly barren, a coordination meeting of district and divisional officials was held on 13 August at Sylhet Circuit House. Deputy Commissioner Sher Mahbub Murad said five measures were adopted to stop stone looting and restore the stolen ones.
The decisions are: joint forces to maintain 24-hour responsibility in the Jaflong ECA area and Shada Pathor; continuous presence of joint forces at police checkpoints in Gowainghat and Companiganj; continue operations to shut down illegal crushing machines and disconnect their electricity connections; identify and arrest those involved in stone theft and bring them under the law; recover stolen stones and restore them to their original locations.
Administration's claims vs reality
During a coordinated operation by the district administration and joint forces, authorities reportedly seized 35,000 cubic feet of stones on 14 August. Around 130 vehicles were searched, with 70 trucks found carrying stones from Shada Pathor and Jaflong, which are now being returned to the rivers to restore natural flow and protect the environment.
Earlier, on 13 August, a raid in Shada Pathor recovered 12,000 cubic feet of stones, which were restored overnight, according to Companiganj UNO Azizunnahar.
Farzana Akter Mita, additional district magistrate, said, "This operation will continue to protect natural resources and the environment. No one involved in the illegal extraction, storage, or smuggling of stones will be spared."
The administration continues overnight raids to arrest those responsible. A three-member investigation committee, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Padmasan Singh, has been formed and is expected to submit its report by 17 August.
Recovered stones are being carefully restored to Dhalaichhara River and other affected areas, reflecting ongoing efforts to curb large-scale illegal stone extraction that has threatened both the environment and Sylhet's tourist sites.
However, a visit on Thursday morning revealed that the stones were scattered haphazardly across the river, and most areas remained largely stone-depleted.
'Bamboo barricades' to stop looting in Jaflong
Unable to fully halt the looting, the Jaflong administration has installed posts along the Piyain River banks to block truck movement for illegal sand and stone extraction. Two bamboo poles tied atop the posts, with a "Stop" signboard, serve as barricades to obstruct supply routes.
The initiative began last week, after rows of trucks were previously entering the river daily, causing traffic congestion. Gowainghat UNO Ratan Kumar Adhikari said the government has clearly prohibited illegal extraction from ECA and tourist areas, and the barricades aim to permanently stop extraction in Jaflong.
On Wednesday, the administration conducted a raid from 1-4pm in Ballaghat, Jhum Pahar, and Zero Point, led by Assistant Commissioner Polly Rani Dev. Sources said 100 boats used for illegal extraction were destroyed, and 130 cubic feet of illegally extracted sand were seized.
Tourism business decline
Ashraf Ali, who sold cosmetics in tents at Shada Pathor, said tourists have stopped coming, leaving his business completely closed. "We are facing extreme hardship," he added.
A visit on 14 August showed more than 50 riverside shops at Shada Pathor all closed. Previously, 4,000–5,000 tourists visited daily, with even higher numbers on holidays, generating good sales. Now, tourists are entirely absent from the area.
Moloy Dutta Mistu, a hotelier from Chindabazar in Sylhet, said almost no tourists are visiting the city. Hotels are empty, and besides the looting, heavy media coverage has further discouraged visitors.
