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Published : 14 Aug 2025, 09:56 PM
Authorities have started an operation to recover stones plundered from Sada Pathar, one of Sylhet’s major tourist destinations, amid allegations of crusher mill owners covering the stolen stones with sand and soil in an attempt to conceal them.
The drive to find the looted stones was launched on Thursday afternoon.
Most crusher mills remained closed, while many owners and others involved in sand and stone extraction went into hiding, according to locals.
In the Bholaganj stone crushing area, imported stones were seen stacked outside the mills, while the looted stones at the back had been buried under layers of sand.
At some mills, the looted stones were being broken down before anyone could catch on.
One of the locals said, “Since the operation began, mill owners have been in trouble over the looted stones. To avoid detection by the authorities, they are covering them with a layer of sand or soil so that it appears to be just a pile of sand.”
“In some mills, sand and soil are being mixed to make the stones look old and black.”
Sylhet Sadar Upazila administrator (UNO) Khoshnur Rubaiyat said, “Our operations are under way in the area. Those hiding stones under sand or soil will face action. We have also received reports of stones being concealed in houses around Sadar Upazila, and our recovery drive will continue.”
Following the shift in government on Aug 5, 2024, large-scale looting began at Sada Pathar -- similar to other stone quarries in Sylhet -- with allegations against local leaders from various political parties.
The issue recently drew public outrage on social media, prompting action from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the local administration.
Known for its natural beauty, Sada Pathar -- located at the source of the Dholai River -- had accumulated vast quantities of stone, but unchecked looting has scarred one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.
Once famed for its crystalline waters and scattered white stones, the picturesque Sada Pathar -- where the Dhalai River kisses the Meghalayan foothills -- now lies stripped and silent, its natural splendour buried beneath swathes of lifeless sand.
Looters transported the stones openly by boat during the day, with hundreds of boats ferrying the material daily. Sand was also dug up along the riverbanks as part of the plunder.
On Thursday, the High Court ordered the authorities to recover the looted stones and restore the area to its former condition.
