Sylhet’s Bholaganj Stone Looting: Investigation Report Submits 10 Recommendations, Names Involved Individuals

The investigation committee formed by the Sylhet district administration has submitted its report on the looting of stones from the Sadapathar tourism center in Companiganj Upazila, Sylhet. The report includes 10 recommendations, observations, and a list of individuals involved in the looting.

On Wednesday, around 1:30 pm, the committee, led by Additional District Administrator Padmasan Singh, handed over the report to the outgoing District Administrator Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad. When contacted, Padmasan Singh declined to disclose details, stating, “I have submitted the report to the DC sir.” Later, Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad told Prothom Alo, “The report will be sent to the Cabinet Division. Nothing more can be said about it.”

Bangladesh has 51 stone and sand quarries, eight of which are located in Sylhet’s Kanaighat, Companiganj, Gowainghat, and Jaintiapur Upazilas. Additionally, stones are found in 10 other locations, including Sadapathar, Jaflong, Bisnakandi, and Utmachhara, brought by hilly rivers from across the Indian border. Before 2020, eight quarries in Sylhet were leased for stone extraction. However, due to environmental and ecological concerns, no quarries have been leased since 2020. Businessmen and political leaders in Sylhet have consistently advocated for stone extraction. Over the past five years, they made several attempts to resume quarry leasing, but the government did not permit it. Consequently, people resorted to illegal stone extraction at night. Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 last year, rampant stone looting continued for a year, with approximately 80% of the stones at Sadapathar tourism center looted. The issue sparked widespread criticism both domestically and internationally. On August 12, the district administration formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter, headed by Padmasan Singh, with Companiganj Upazila Executive Officer Azizunnahar (transferred on Monday) and Assistant Director of Sylhet’s Environment Department Md. Afzarul Islam as members. A source revealed that the committee’s report details the reasons for the looting, identifies involved individuals, and includes recommendations and observations. The report was prepared after site visits, discussions with various individuals, and information gathered from multiple sources.[](https://www.khoborsangjog.com/national/86492/%25E0%25A6%25AD%25E0%25A7%258B%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2597%25E0%25A6%259E%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%259C-%25E0%25A6%25AA%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25A5%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%2581%25E0%25A6%259F-%25E0%25A6%25A4%25E0%25A6%25A6%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25A4%25E0%25A7%2587-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A7%259F%25E0%25A7%2587-%25E0%25A6%258F%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%258B-%25E0%25A7%25A7%25E0%25A7%25A9%25E0%25A7%25AD-%25E0%25A6%259C%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25AE) During a meeting at the Companiganj Upazila Parishad auditorium on Wednesday afternoon, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-Un-Nabi told journalists that a comprehensive list of stone looters is being prepared cautiously to ensure only the guilty are named and innocent people are not harassed. The list will be made public once completed, and the process involves coordination with intelligence agencies and other organizations. Addressing whether his remarks at a July 9 meeting at the Divisional Commissioner’s office encouraged looters, Reza-Un-Nabi clarified, “We discussed leasing that day, not stone theft. I didn’t say anything to encourage stone looters. If anyone spread such a message, it’s incorrect.”

Meanwhile, joint forces and a taskforce continued operations to recover looted stones. By 6:00 pm on Wednesday, sources reported that 95,000 cubic feet of stones were recovered in Sadar Upazila and 2,000 cubic feet in Gowainghat Upazila. Although operations were conducted in Companiganj, the Upazila administration could not provide details on the amount of stones recovered by 6:00 pm.