39,000 cubic feet of stone recovered in Sylhet, 2 held

A task force has recovered about 39,000 cubic feet of stone from various areas of Sylhet Sadar, Companiganj and Gowainghat upazilas. The operation lasted from Sunday morning to 5:00pm. Two people were arrested during the raids.

Those involved in the operation said that in the morning, a drive was conducted under the supervision of Sylhet Senior Assistant Commissioner Mahmud Ashiq Kabir in the Salutikar Bhata area adjacent to Dhopagul in Sadar upazila.

Members of the army, police and RAB were present in the operation.

Stones buried in the ground were found in the yard of a stone crusher mill.

Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khoshnur Rubaiyat said that of the recovered stones, about 4,500 cubic feet of stone were sent to Ghat No. 10 in Bholaganj.

In addition, about 25,000 cubic feet of white stone were seized during a drive in Kalabari and Kalibari areas of Companiganj. The drive was led by Senior Assistant Commissioner of the District Administration, Tamalika Paul.

She said that out of the recovered stones, about 5,000 cubic feet of stone have been taken to the tourist center. The remaining 20,000 cubic feet of stone are under the supervision of law enforcement agencies in Kalibari area and they will also be taken to the tourist center.

Again, about 3,000 cubic feet of stone were recovered during a drive in Jumpar area of Gowainghat. Upazila Executive Officer Ratan Kumar Adhikari confirmed this information.

On Saturday (August 16), 250,000 cubic feet of stone were seized from the Dhopagul Stone Crusher Zone of Sylhet Sadar Upazila and the local Mahaldik village. UNO Khoshnur Rubaiyat said that 130,000 cubic feet of stone were seized from the crusher zone and 52,000 cubic feet of stone were seized from the village. The seized stones will be re-installed in Bholaganj.

In the last three days, the joint forces have recovered about 3.75 lakh of stone so far.