Unveiling the Twenty-Year Rampage of Souvenir Thefts at Sylhet's Tourist Attractions
In the picturesque tourist site of Shada Pathor, renowned for its river stones, a significant depletion has been observed due to recent looting activities. This illegal extraction has been ongoing for at least 20 years and has involved high-level political figures and administrative officials from multiple parties, including BNP, Jamaat, NCP, and Awami League.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has placed the blame on public administration officials for allowing the looting to continue, and has identified 42 politicians and influential persons, directly or indirectly linked to the looting at Sada Pathor. Among those named is Shahab Uddin, president of Companiganj upazila BNP, who denies involvement but some of his relatives are allegedly involved.
Other local BNP leaders and activists are also alleged to be involved in the illegal stone extraction. The looting increased after 5 August 2024, due to lapses in police oversight. Despite investigations and reports naming many offenders, no final punitive actions have been publicly reported as of late August 2025.
The administration continues overnight raids to arrest those responsible for the illegal stone extraction. Jaflong, another major tourist destination, was declared an Environmentally Critical Area (ECA) in February 2020, and extraction was halted. However, looting resumed without restriction after 5 August 2024.
The current status of the investigation involves several bodies. The ACC has conducted enforcement drives and submitted preliminary reports to Dhaka, seeking permission to open detailed case files based on evidence against these political figures and officials. The Sylhet district administration formed a probe committee, and the cabinet division formed a five-member committee led by the Public Administration Ministry's Senior Secretary. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) also established its own probe committee over the stone looting incident.
Protests demanding the reopening of stone quarries have been reported, with protesters blocking the convoy of Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in Jaflong’s ECA on 14 June. The administration has taken no initiative to stop the looting, according to Shah Shaheda Akhter, Sylhet coordinator of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
Environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan noted that 94% of Bangladesh's stone demand is met through imports, with only 6% coming from domestic sources. The BGB oversees activities within 150 yards of the border in Shada Pathor and Jaflong, but no stone looting has occurred within this area. Stones worth nearly Tk3,000 crore have been looted from these sites over the past 20 years.
White stone extraction is carried out by hired workers, with political leaders from different parties reportedly providing support and shelter. Ashraf Ali, who sold cosmetics in tents at Shada Pathor, said tourists have stopped coming, leaving his business completely closed.
The district BNP General Secretary Emran Ahmad Chowdhury stated that no party member involved is being spared, noting that many commit crimes under the party's name, and the administration has been requested to act against them. Several leaders of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Sramik Dal were among the demonstrators.
Zahid Khan, Gowainghat upazila Jubo Dal Joint convener was expelled from the party that night. The ACC, government probe committees, and law enforcement inquiries continue in an effort to hold the guilty accountable, but as of late August 2025, no final punitive actions have been publicly reported.
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