High Court Orders Eco-Tourism Development for 17 Stone Quarries, Including 7 in Sylhet

Dhaka, August 25, 2025: The High Court has directed authorities to formulate a master plan for the conservation and management of 17 stone quarries across Bangladesh, including seven in Sylhet, as environmentally friendly and sustainable eco-tourism sites.

On Sunday (August 24), a High Court bench comprising Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Ainun Nahar Siddiqua issued the order after the preliminary hearing of a public interest litigation filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). Advocate S. Hasanul Banna, representing BELA, confirmed the matter to Kalbela.

He stated that the court ordered immediate preventive measures to stop destructive stone extraction. The Director General of the Bureau of Mineral Development, the Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet, and the Deputy Commissioners of Sylhet and Bandarban have been instructed to prepare and submit a master plan and action plan to the court within three months. Additionally, the court directed authorities to submit a detailed report on stone extraction activities in the Sylhet region since August 2024, along with a list of those responsible. The Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet have been summoned to appear in court to explain the matter. The court also issued a rule questioning why destructive, harmful, and hazardous stone extraction in areas such as Jaflong, Shah Arefin Tila, Bholaganj, Utmachhara, Sripur, Bisnakandi, and Lobhachhara in Sylhet, as well as 10 jhiri-chhara areas in Bandarban, should not be declared illegal, unauthorized, and against public interest. The court further asked why these quarries should not be declared environmentally critical areas and transformed into sustainable eco-tourism sites, and why legal action and compensation should not be sought from those involved in illegal stone extraction. Advocates Minhajul Haque Chowdhury and S. Hasanul Banna represented BELA, while Deputy Attorney General Muha. Ershadul Bari Khandaker appeared for the state.

Bangladesh has 51 designated quarries for stone and sand extraction. Eight of these are in Sylhet’s Kanaighat, Companiganj, Gowainghat, and Jaintiapur. Additionally, areas like Sadapather, Jaflong, Bisnakandi, and Utmachhara in Sylhet are known for stone and sand deposits and are recognized as tourist destinations. These resources originate from the hilly rivers of Meghalaya, India, across the border. Prior to 2020, eight quarries in Sylhet were leased for stone extraction, but due to environmental and ecological damage, no further leases have been issued since then.