The return of millions of cubic feet of looted white stones has begun in earnest in the Sylhet region following an ultimatum issued by the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC), Md Sarwar Alam.
The initiative comes from rampant illegal extraction from the once-pristine Sadapathar area in Companiganj, Salutikor, and Bholaganj.
By Tuesday morning (August 26), an estimated 300,000 cubic feet of stone had been voluntarily returned in over 200 trucks. This adds to the 1.3 million cubic feet of stone currently stockpiled at the administration’s dumping sites, awaiting reinstallation.
Md Robin Mia, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Companiganj, confirmed the developments, stating that more than 650,000 cubic feet of stone have been seized as of Monday. He added that around 200 labourers are now engaged in the reinstallation process.
The initiative follows a strict three-day ultimatum issued by DC Sarwar, offering unconditional legal immunity to those who return the looted stones to the administration in Bholaganj at their own expense by 5:00 pm on Tuesday.
The announcement, widely broadcast via public address systems, prompted a rush of compliance from individuals and operators possessing illicitly extracted stone.
Truck drivers transporting the returned materials from crushing plants stated that the stones were initially taken from processing sites and are now being offloaded by boat back into the Sadapathar area.
Local letter-of-credit (LC) trader Noman Ahmad told Banglanews that while the Sadapathar landscape may never be fully restored to its original state, the administration’s efforts would at least revive its aesthetic and ecological character.
Chainman Enayet Hossain of the Companiganj Tehsil Office, overseeing stone intake at Bholaganj's No. 10 Ghat, reported that millions of cubic feet of stone were returned on Monday alone. As of that afternoon, 22 trucks had already unloaded, while more than 200 waited in the queue.
On Monday, a ground visit to the No. 10 area revealed widespread environmental damage. What was once a vibrant and scenic tourist destination has been left resembling a desert, local resident Abdul Bari observed.
He commended the administration for initiating the partial restoration through recovered materials.
On the same day, more than 100 boats were seen unloading stone into the water in a coordinated replenishment effort, supervised directly by UNO Robin Mia. An official from the Bureau of Mineral Resources Development visited the site but declined to comment publicly.
By 5:00 pm on Monday, approximately 550,000 cubic feet of stone had been reinstalled, said Robin Mia. He noted that boats continuously ferry stone from the dumping stations and other regional locations. “We expect to deliver good news by the end of the week,” he stated. “Once the reinstallation is complete, Sadapathar will regain its appeal as a tourist attraction.”
The large-scale looting began after a significant shift in local administrative authority on August 5, 2024. Despite an existing High Court injunction, systematic and unprecedented thefts occurred over two weeks across Sadapathar and its surrounding areas, including Bholaganj’s No. 10 zone—once famed for its natural stone formations and frequent tourist influx. The region’s economy, largely dependent on river workers, traders, and residents, was severely impacted.
The looting reportedly took place with the complicity of corrupt elements within both district and local administrations. Amid mounting criticism, the previous Deputy Commissioner was made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD), and the UNO was transferred.
The outgoing DC initiated recovery efforts, which have since been significantly accelerated under the leadership of his successor. Authorities and local stakeholders now express hope that the recovered and reinstalled stone will play a vital role in environmental rehabilitation and restore the area’s lost charm.
SMS/
