Authorities in Sylhet have recovered around 35,000 cubic feet of stones from 70 trucks during an overnight operation targeting illegal extraction and trafficking from the scenic “Shada Pathor” area in Companiganj.
The drive, which began late Wednesday and continued into Thursday afternoon, was part of a broader crackdown on unauthorized stone quarrying that has been damaging the region’s natural landscape.
Officials said the seized stones are being returned to the Dholai River in an effort to restore its natural flow and environmental balance.
The operation follows a five-point plan adopted by the district and divisional administrations during a meeting at the Sylhet Circuit House on Wednesday evening.
The measures include round-the-clock deployment of joint forces in the Jaflong ECA and Shada Pathor areas, permanent police checkpoints in Goainghat and Companiganj, disconnection of electricity to illegal stone-crushing machines, arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in stone theft, and restoration of stolen stones to their original sites.
Following these directives, law enforcement launched the recovery effort immediately after the meeting, setting up roadblocks to stop stones from being transported out of Sylhet.
Officials noted that a significant portion of the recovered stones had already been returned to the river by Thursday.
The illegal extraction of stones from Sylhet’s quarries, particularly Shada Pathor, has become a growing concern in recent months.
Reports suggest that the plundering has been carried out openly, allegedly with the involvement of influential groups and without effective administrative intervention.
Media coverage of the issue has sparked widespread public outrage, prompting the latest enforcement action.
