Ongoing looting of stones from Sylhet quarries intensifies earthquake risk

The continuous looting of stones by BNP and its affiliated organizations has put four major stone quarries and a hill in Sylhet at serious risk. According to locals and environmentalists, the unrelenting destruction by illegal stone extraction using powerful machines is devastating these natural reserves.

The affected quarries include Bholaganj Stone Quarry in Companiganj, Jaflong Stone Quarry, Lovachhara Quarry in Kanaighat, and Bichanakandi Quarry. Additionally, Shah Arefin Tila in Bholaganj, which houses a shrine of a revered saint, is also under threat. The stones that once served as protective barriers for these areas are being depleted.

Sources from the quarries estimate that stones worth approximately Tk 5,000 crore have been looted over the past seven months.

The area stretching from Jaflong to Bholaganj lies in an earthquake-prone zone. Environmentalists warn that continued stone looting could significantly increase the risk of a major earthquake.

Previously, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its allies were implicated in illegal stone extraction. In 2014, following the deaths of at least 50 workers during unlawful operations, authorities banned stone collection in the region. The death toll decreased as a result.

Following a petition by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), the High Court imposed a ban on stone extraction from these quarries. The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, enforced the ban seriously. Although the ban is still in effect, the situation changed after the political shift on August 5 last year. Since then, stone looting has resumed, allegedly led by BNP and its affiliated groups.

Despite 30–35 lawsuits being filed against hundreds of illegal stone miners, political influence has kept most of them beyond the reach of the law. Syndicates continue their activities unchecked, ignoring occasional raids by authorities.

In Jaflong alone, over 200 stone looters have been named in eight cases, but little action has followed.

Bholaganj Stone Quarry
The largest stone quarry in the country, Bholaganj, has seen rampant looting since the day after August 5. The area includes a railway ropeway bunker, which was previously guarded by railway security personnel. After an initial attack, they withdrew, leaving the site vulnerable to looters.

Local leaders of the Jubo Dal (BNP’s youth wing), including Rajon Ahmed, Rubel Ahmed Bahar, and district Jubo Dal leader Mostakim Farhad, are reportedly leading the looting. Backed by a syndicate involving BNP, Awami League, and local businessmen, they have looted stones worth over Tk 2,500 crore, including white stones and bunker materials, over the past seven months. Allegations have also been made against local police and BGB members for extorting money from the extracted stones.

From Shah Arefin Tila alone, stones worth Tk 200 crore have been looted, almost flattening the hill. Thirteen police officers, including a sub-inspector from Companiganj Police Station, were withdrawn after allegations of extortion surfaced.

Several sources claimed that a syndicate of police, local administration, and illegal miners has even destroyed the soil around the shrine, mosque, and madrasa at Shah Arefin Tila, extracting stones and minerals.

Environmentalists believe that if the government had regulated this area, it could have earned significant revenue, and thousands could have found legal employment.

On-site visits revealed that leaders like Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Ayub Ali, Rafique Mia, Monir Mia, Abdul Karim, and Abdur Rashid are heading operations where thousands of workers are using dredgers and excavators to extract stones from deep pits. On January 23, a case was filed under environmental law against 23 individuals, but authorities have yet to arrest anyone.

Jaflong Stone Quarry
Initially, looters targeted surface-level stones in Jaflong after August 5. For the past two months, hundreds of bomb machines have been used to extract stones from underground, leaving the once-famous Jaflong landscape in ruins.

The local administration initially reported that stones worth Tk 125 crore were looted in just ten days in August. However, locals estimate that over Tk 2,000 crore worth of stones have been looted over the past seven months.

They allege that a politically-backed group, led by suspended district BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Shah Poran and former Upazila Chairman Shah Alam Swapan, is behind the looting. Leaders of the Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal have recently joined in.

Lovachhara Quarry in Kanaighat
Previously extracted stones stored at Lovachhara were also looted after August 5. Though the Awami League government had issued leases toward the end of its term, the stones couldn’t be removed in time. After a period of calm, looting has resumed in full force without any leases in place.

Bichanakandi Quarry
One of the largest quarries in the country, Bichanakandi, is now emptied. Stones worth Tk 300 crore were looted from its surface layer in just two months. Even the local police in Goainghat were embroiled in controversy while trying to seize looted stones.

Environmentalists say the situation cannot be controlled by police alone, as the syndicate includes members of the police, BGB, and stone looters. They are calling for joint operations similar to the military’s crackdown in Haripur’s illegal trade zone. They believe such efforts in Jaflong, Bholaganj, and Bichanakandi could bring an end to the looting.

Md. Badrul Islam, Assistant Director of the Sylhet Department of Environment, said that the department has carried out operations in Jaflong for 20–25 days to stop stone looting.

He confirmed that cases have been filed and that the police superintendent has been given a list of suspects. They have also sought assistance from the military. Discussions are ongoing with the Deputy Commissioner and relevant parties to launch a joint initiative.

Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman told Views Bangladesh that "We’ve received names of several syndicate members from both police stations and locals. Legal action will be taken soon after verification."

Attempts to reach the deputy commissioner for comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls made to his official phone.