A case was filed over large-scale stone looting in the environmentally critical area (ECA) of Jaflong in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet.

Gowainghat police chief (OC) Tofayel Ahmed confirmed the development on Tuesday, 19 August. 

He said Union Land Officer Abdul Monayem lodged the case (No. 29(8)/25) the previous night, naming between 100 and 150 unidentified individuals as suspects. 
According to the case statement, between August 7 and 9, at least 40,000 cubic feet of stone was illegally extracted from the Jaflong ECA from 1 am to 4 am during heavy rain. 

No arrests have been made so far, the OC added.

Since August 5 last year, the Department of Environment (DoE) has filed 11 cases over stone looting in the Jaflong ECA, Assistant Director Badrul Huda said. 

The first case, filed in September last year, named 92 identified stone looters, though only one suspect was arrested by the army.

Huda, who previously served as DoE assistant director, criticized the lack of enforcement. “Since August 5 last year, I filed 11 cases over stone looting in Jaflong’s ECA, but police have not arrested a single accused. We submitted requisitions, even met the superintendent of police, but no action was taken. If steps had been taken then, today’s situation could have been avoided and the looting prevented,” he said.

Responding to this, OC Tofayel Ahmed told Banglanews that cases filed under environmental law are bailable, which allows accused individuals to secure release through bail.

SMS/