The administration on Saturday gave a three-day ultimatum to local residents to return the stones looted from Sadapathar, a popular tourist destination in the Bholaganj area under Companiganj upazila in Sylhet district.
The Border Guard Bangladesh, on the other hand, formed a committee to investigate the widespread looting of stones from the area.
Companiganj upazila nirbahi officer Mohammad Ripon Mia, addressing a view-exchanging meeting with local people at the upazila administration鈥檚 conference room on Saturday, gave the local residents a three-day ultimatum to return the stones looted from Sadapathar.
Addressing the programme as the chief guest, Sylhet additional deputy commissioner (general) Padmasan Singha said that a public announcement would be made in this regard.
He said that the people of all areas of the upazila should return the looted stones within the next three days.
鈥業f anyone fails to return the stones by this time, stern action will be taken after recovering the stones from his or her possession,鈥� he added.
According to the Environment Rights activists and local people, more than 20 million cubic feet of stones were looted from the Sadapathar tourist spot under Companiganj upazila and the Jaflong area under Goainghat upazila since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5, 2024.
About 6.32 lakh cft of the looted stones have so far been recovered since August 14, the administration said.
BGB 48 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Haque said on Saturday that the BGB headquarters had formed a committee to probe the alleged involvement of the BGB officials in looting stones from the Sadapathar area.
Besides, BGB 19 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Md Zubayer Anwar on Saturday alleged that misinformation was being spread about BGB鈥檚 involvement in the recent stone looting.
He made the claim while talking to journalists after patrolling the Lalakhal area under Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet.聽
鈥楢fter the recent stone looting, the BGB has increased its manpower and enhanced intelligence surveillance in the relevant areas, he said.
Sylhet district unit of Anti-Corruption Commission sent an investigation report to its headquarters, reportedly naming 42 political leaders of different parties, administrative officials and businessmen.
ACC deputy director in the Sylhet office, Rafi Md Nazmus Sadat, told 抖阴精品 that they have sought the commission鈥檚 permission for a further detailed investigation into the stone looting.
During the Sheikh Hasina-led regime, the High Court had suspended extracting stones from the Bholaganj and Jaflong areas as part of efforts to protect the environment and the tourist spots.
Though the looting of stones increased after the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, the administration remained silent and did not take any effective steps to stop the destruction of nature, the locals alleged.
They alleged that unscrupulous people having political connections took advantage of the 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 under Goainghat, Rangpani tourist spot of the Shripur area under Jaintapur, Lova Chhara under Kanaighat upazila and the adjoining areas.
The Bureau of Mineral Resources director general Mohammad Anwarul Habib filed a case with the Companiganj police station against 1,500 unnamed people on August 15 for their alleged involvement in widespread looting of stones from the Sadapathar.