Illegal Stone Mining in Sylhet’s Bholaganj-Sada Pathar: Assets Worth Billions Looted

Sylhet Correspondent

Unrestrained looting continues in the Bholaganj-Sada Pathar area of Sylhet, with illegal stone mining operations extracting resources worth over Tk 1,000 crore in the past eight months, according to local sources.

Comparisons of photographs taken before and after August 5 reveal stark changes in the landscape. Areas once teeming with stones are now barren expanses of sand, with no remnants of the region’s natural stone deposits.

Despite months passing since the government transition, local authorities have shown little initiative to address the issue. In the absence of oversight, unchecked plundering persists, leaving residents increasingly alarmed.

Environmental experts warn that the stones not only enhanced the area’s beauty but also served as a natural barrier against monsoon floods originating from India. With the stones depleted, locals fear severe damage from hill torrents in the upcoming rainy season.

While residents express growing concern, there has yet to be any effective action to curb the exploitation or mitigate its environmental impact.