A plot to destroy shrine by extracting stones in Sylhet!

The stone extraction in Sylhet’s stone-rich region has led to a spree of destruction, as influential groups are attempting to lease hillocks for stone extraction. Due to the administration's indifferent role, these groups remain unstoppable. As a result, the hillocks are being destroyed, which is affecting homes, markets, mosques, and shrines. Even playgrounds and cemeteries have not been spared from this destruction.

One of the latest victims of this looting is the 700-year-old shrine of Hazrat Shah Arefin (Rah.) in Companiganj, Sylhet. Earlier, a powerful group looted stones worth hundreds of crores from Bichanakandi in Goainghat Upazila of Sylhet. Both incidents started after the political shift on August 5. Locals say that the police's role in these events is questionable. While two accused were arrested in the Bichanakandi case, the main culprits have yet to be apprehended.

According to reports, to protect the 700-year-old shrine of Hazrat Shah Arefin (Rah.) in Companiganj, a centuries-old black stone embankment was built around it. The shrine also housed a 200-year-old banyan tree and hundreds of fruit, medicinal, and forest trees. However, this is no longer the case, as a wave of destruction has overtaken the area. The black stones of the centuries-old embankment have been looted, and the medicinal and forest trees have already been cut down. The 200-year-old banyan tree is also being felled, and the shrine itself is being excavated for stone extraction. This historic site associated with Hazrat Shah Arefin (Rah.) is being erased.

Despite this rampant looting and destruction, no action has been taken by the authorities. It has been revealed that out of the 137.5 acres of the hill, 10 acres are waqf (religious endowment) land dedicated to the Shah Arefin (Rah.) and Bindia shrines. These 10 acres included the shrine, mosque, cemetery, and a playground. The stones have already been extracted from the cemetery and playground, erasing them. Even the mosque’s activities have been irregular for the past two years due to the surrounding stone extraction, which has left the mosque in a hazardous state. In the last month, looting of stones from the shrine’s main area has begun, and in just one week, approximately two crore taka worth of stones were looted from the embankment. Moreover, around 40-50 feet of the shrine’s main area have been dug up for stone extraction. The roads leading to the shrine, cemetery, and mosque have disappeared, forcing the looters to extract stones directly from within the shrine.

Mohit Shah, also known as Lalu Shah, who is in charge of the shrine, said that in 2007, when the attempt to destroy the shrine for stone extraction began, he registered the shrine with the government waqf estate. From then until 2019, he was able to preserve the shrine. During that time, he submitted complaints, with court fees attached, to all relevant departments, including the Deputy Commissioner, Environmental and Mineral Ministries, Superintendent of Police, and the local administration. Later, a new committee was formed in Dhaka to facilitate stone extraction from the shrine land.

He further explained that after submitting a written complaint to the Secretary, all activities of the shrine committee were suspended. Currently, in their efforts to erase the shrine, all the stones from the embankment have been looted. These stones were centuries old, weighing between 20 kg and 100 maunds each. Large stones were broken with hammers and taken away. The shrine's destroyers have claimed that they cannot lease the hill because of the shrine, which is why they have started destroying it. Shah stated that he would soon submit a written complaint to the relevant authorities to protect the shrine.

Md. Islam Uddin, the acting officer of Khan Bahadur Ehya Waqf Estate, said they were unaware of the destruction and would take steps to protect the shrine and the waqf land. He emphasized that he was taking the matter seriously. Sylhet’s Additional District Magistrate, Md. Anwar Uz Zaman, said that he would inform the local UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) and instruct them to take action.

Meanwhile, after the government changed on August 5, stones worth around one hundred crore taka have disappeared from Bichanakandi near the Indian border. The clear water streams that once attracted tourists are now nothing but deep pits. Illegal stone extractors have even moved a few meters inside the No Man's Land to carry out their activities. During an inspection, a team from the Toakkul Land Office of Goainghat Upazila, led by Assistant Land Officer Hussein Mohammad Sajib, caught two workers extracting stones with a boat. However, moments later, 25 to 30 workers arrived with 7 to 8 boats and resumed the stone extraction. Notably, no actions were observed from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to stop the illegal extraction from No Man’s Land.

Goainghat UNO Md. Touhidul Islam stated that No Man’s Land falls under the jurisdiction of the BGB, and there is nothing they can do about it. They have informed the BGB, who will take further action. According to some local youths, since August 5, a group of influential individuals has been facilitating 24-hour stone extraction from this area. Every day, stones worth several crores of taka are extracted.