The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an operation in Sylhet’s Companyganj Upazila following reports of illegal extraction and looting of state-owned stones from the Sadapathar tourism site.
An ACC enforcement team conducted an on-site inspection from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, beginning the process of identifying those responsible for the theft. The operation was led by the Deputy Director of the ACC Sylhet Coordinated District Office.
Sources associated with the operation said hundreds of millions of taka worth of state-owned stones were illegally extracted from the Sadapathar site over time. The ACC has confirmed preliminary evidence supporting the allegations and is working to identify the individuals involved.
The Deputy Director stated that local residents, influential figures, and stone-related businesspeople were involved in the illegal activity. The ACC also found that local authorities, police, and the Mines and Minerals Development Bureau were either inactive or did not prevent the looting, allowing the theft to continue. Further actions will be taken after the investigation.
During the inspection, the ACC team observed active local administrative services, a Border Guard camp along the riverbank, and patrolling personnel. Despite this presence, stones were extracted over the past year under the direct or indirect involvement of local influential figures. The looted stones were often crushed at local stone crusher sites to conceal evidence of theft.
Separately, the Companyganj Upazila administration conducted an operation from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seizing 12,000 cubic feet of illegally extracted stones near the Kalairag area adjacent to Sadapathar and cutting off electricity to equipment used for stone crushing in the Kolabari area. Military assistance helped maintain peace during the operation, which was conducted in the border region under the jurisdictional limits of security forces.
A similar operation took place in Goainhat Upazila’s Jaflong area, targeting illegal extraction of stones and sand in Ballaghat, Jhum Pahar, and Zero Point from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The operation, led by an Assistant Commissioner, destroyed 100 boats used for illegal extraction and seized 130 feet of illegally collected sand.
Reports indicate that mass looting of Sylhet’s stone quarries began in 2020 after government restrictions were lifted following the August 5 political upheaval. While Sadapathar had relatively lower levels of illegal extraction initially, looting intensified after April 23, with nearly 80 percent of the stones at the site removed over the past week.
Sadapathar, located near the Dhulai River at the Bangladesh-India border, covers roughly 15 acres and is a popular tourist destination. The site’s flowing streams over numerous stones are a major attraction, drawing thousands of visitors daily. The recent illegal extraction has left tourists disappointed.
