The governmentโs Energy and Mineral Resources Division secretly filed a case on Friday night against 1,500 people amid an uproar from the public and the media over the ongoing looting of Shada Pathor or white stones from Sylhetโs Bholaganj quarry.
Director General of the Bureau of Mineral Development MD. Anwarul Habib filed the case under Section 4(2) of the Mines and Minerals (Control and Development) Act 1992 and Rule 93 (1) of the Mining and Mineral Rules of 2012 at the Companiganj police station.
Officer-in-Charge Uzayer al Mahmud confirmed the filing of the case to the media.
Netizens have condemned the government’s attempt to save the culprits who were already exposed by the media. The most notable culprits of the Sylhet zone are linked to the King’s party, National Citizen Party (NCP), BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), and Hefazat-e-Islam.
According to the case statement, the plaintiff cited media reports saying that unidentified criminals have looted white stones worth crores from the gazetted quarries of Bholaganj through illegal and unauthorised means since August 5 last year.
Those responsible could not be identified, the case says.
Even though the matter of looting came to light in the media in March, especially when the daily Prothom Alo reported the plunder, it became a talk of the town on August 11 when the BNP suspended all the party posts of Companiganj Upazila President Sahab Uddin.
A notice signed by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that, based on clear allegations of involvement in unethical activities against the principles and ideals of the BNP, including extortion and encroachment, all posts held by Sahab Uddin have been suspended.
In his place, Companiganj Upazila BNP Vice President Haji Abdul Mannan has been nominated as the acting president. This decision will remain in effect until further orders.
According to the Prothom Alo, Sahab Uddin was accused of encroaching on about 150 acres of government land. A report titled โBNP leader owns government land through encroachmentโ was published on the last page of Prothom Alo on March 17.
Following the criticism regarding the encroachment, the local administration initiated a drive to recover government land on March 18. At that time, illegal encroachers were evicted from about 70 acres of land. In addition to 100 small and large stone crushers located in these places, about 50 tin shed houses were demolished.
The Awami League government banned the extraction of white stones in 2020. But after the August 5 changeover, the leaders of BNP and its allied organisations and other parties took control of the quarry.
The main patron behind the looting is Abul Muqtadir, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said sources.
Thousands of workers started extracting stones under their patronage. These stones were sold to crusher machine owners in barges and steel boats. Later, the stones were broken into small pieces by machines and supplied to traders. The traders sent the stones to different parts of the country in trucks and pickups.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rezwana Hasanโs husband, Abu Bakar Siddique, also emerged as one of the patrons of the looting. Siddique is campaigning in the area for the next general election.
Earlier, the district BNP issued a show cause notice to Sahab Uddin on March 19 in connection with the seizure of government land in Bholaganj. In addition, a three-member investigation committee was formed with district BNP Vice-President Ashiq Uddin as the convener to investigate the allegations.
A source in the district BNP said that the investigation committee submitted a report after visiting a stone quarry in Bholaganj on April 10.
The investigation report mentioned that evidence was found that BNP leader Sahab Uddin and his relatives were involved in the seizure and looting of government land. The report said that it was never thought that such a crime would be committed under the leadership of the upazila president.
It was mentioned that this damaged the image of the party and caused extreme insult to the leadership.
ACC launches drive
On August 13, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officials visited the area and blamed the administration’s negligence over the unprecedented looting of white stones in the Bholaganj area of Sylhet.
ACC officials believe that resources worth thousands of crores of taka have been looted due to the lack of proper vigilance by the local administration.
A delegation from the ACC’s Sylhet office visited the white stones area of Bholaganj. After the inspection, ACC Sylhet Deputy Director Rafi Md Nazmus Sadat told reporters: โThis is mainly the responsibility of the local administration.
โIf the administration had been more vigilant, this looting could have been prevented. The relevant departments, including the Mineral Resources Development Bureau, should have played an effective role.โ
He also said that tourists are disappointed when they come to the area. The natural beauty has been destroyed, which is making visitors regret it.
Asked who was involved in the looting, the ACC deputy director said: โThere are many stone crusher mills around Bholaganj, where stones are broken. It is heard that local influential people, businessmen and some high-ranking circles are also involved in the looting. We will investigate the issues further.โ
About the reason for the late inspection, he said that they work on the instructions of the head office. โWe came here only after receiving the instructions. The distance from the Sylhet office to Bholaganj is very long, and our manpower is limited.โ
On August 13, Companiganj police OC Uzayer Mahmud Adnan said: โWe have already filed 20 cases to prevent the looting. We are conducting special task force operations under the leadership of the magistrate as soon as we receive information. Regular patrols are also conducted in the area.โ
Advisers visit spot
On June 13, 2025, advisers Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan visited Jaflong, an environmentally critical area (ECA). Later, the two advisers spoke to media personnel.
At that time, Syeda Rizwana said that in the interest of protecting nature and the environment, no stone quarry in Sylhet, including Jaflong, will be leased in the future.
On the other hand, to prevent illegal stone trade, Fauzul Kabir instructed the local administration to quickly disconnect the power connection of the crusher machines located in different places in Sylhet.
According to district administration sources, immediately after receiving the instructions from the two advisors, the administration started the work of preparing a list of the number of legal and illegal crusher machines in the district. Later, the power connection of all the crusher machines will be disconnected based on the list.
Traders demand opening of stone quarry
On June 18, 2025, the District Stone Traders Owner-Workers Unity Council held a press conference at a restaurant auditorium in the city’s Barutkhana area. The organisation’s coordinator, Shabbir Ahmed Faiz, read out a written statement at the time.
He demanded immediate withdrawal of the suspension order of the stone quarry lease; end of harassment and police torture in the name of vehicle searches; stop harassment of crusher mill owners and allow them to do business; and return of electricity meters.
At this time, the speakers announced to hold a human chain program in front of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar in the city’s Chowhatta area to achieve the demands. However, they warned of announcing a strict movement program if the demands were not met.
The organisation called for saving billions of dollars in reserves by stopping the import of stone from India.
Islamists ligitimise looting
On September 15, 2024, the Senior Nayeb Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim (Shaykh-e-Chormonai), exchanged views with the stone traders’ owners’ association and workers’ representatives, on the demand for “activating the stone quarry in Sylhet.”
He said that environmental damage due to stone quarrying is not an issue, but it is an Indian conspiracy to prevent stone quarrying.
โStone quarrying has been going on since the British era. In 2019, Sheikh Hasina stopped stone quarrying to please India. This is an Indian conspiracy. So that they can export their stone.
โLow-quality stone worth $5 million is imported from India every year. But we cannot collect our stones.โ
He claimed that extracting stones from the river does not destroy the environment. Rather, the environment is being destroyed due to the ban. Rivers are being filled, and floods are occurring. Water cannot drain quickly due to the stones.
He added that there is a conspiracy to flood the country and kill the people.
โWe call on the interim government not to stop the extraction of our property in the name of preserving the environment. Allow the extraction of stones soon. If you do not withdraw the ban, we will understand that you have succumbed to Indian pressure.โ
He added that stone imports from India must be stopped. โIt will strengthen the economy and create employment.โ
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