About 26 lakh cubic feet of stones looted from popular tourist spot Sadapathar at Bholaganj area under Companiganj upazila in Sylhet were recovered till Tuesday afternoon, with the three-day deadline set by the district administration for returning stolen stones voluntarily to escape punishment ending.
Sylhet deputy commissioner Md Sarwoer Alam made the remarks while talking to reporters in the afternoon after inspecting Sadapathar.
He said that among 26 lakh cubic feet of stones, 7 lakh cft were returned voluntarily by local traders and 19 lakh cft of stones were recovered from different places during the drives since August 13.
鈥楾aking legal action will be started against those who are found to have looted stones from today (Wednesday),鈥� the deputy commissioner said.
Regarding the replacing of the recovered stones, he said that it was a very difficult task. So far, 11 lakh cft of stones were replaced and the remaining stones would be replaced within a week, he said.
He informed that 500 workers, 400 boats, and more than 300 trucks had been working to carry the recovered stones and replace them at Sadapathar.
Stating that legal proceedings would also be carried out in addition to the restoration of the stones, he said that those who looted the stones would definitely be arrested.
鈥楬owever, attention is also being paid to ensure that those who are innocent are not harassed,鈥� the DC said.
Mentioning that the real culprits would be brought to law, he informed the reporters that several thousands of people were involved in the extraction of the stones.
鈥楬owever, efforts are being made to arrest those who led the widespread looting,鈥� Sarwoer Alam said.
According to environment rights activists and local people, more than 20 million cubic feet of stones were looted from the Sadapathar tourist spot at Bhulaganj area under Companiganj and Jaflong area under Goainghat upazila in the district since the fall of the authoritarian Hasina regime on August 5 past year.
Though the looting of stones were increased after the fall of authoritarian Awami League regime in a mass uprising on August 5, 2024, and it has continued since then, the administration remained silent and did not take any effective step to stop destroying nature, local people said.
They alleged that unscrupulous people having political connections took advantage of fragile law and order situation in the country after the 2024 political changeover to loot stones and sand from the Sadapathar and Utma Chhara under Companiganj, Jaflong tourist spot at Goainghat, Rangpani tourist spot at Shripur under Jaintapur, Lobha Chhara at Kanaighat upazila and the adjoining areas.
