Investigators believe stones worth thousands of crores of taka have been illegally stolen from Shada Pathar in Sylhet over just the last few months.
To get to the bottom of it, a team from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was on the ground this Wednesday. Led by Assistant Director Rafi Md Nazmus Sadat, the nine-member team examined the site and spoke with local residents and officials to gather more information.
Ashraf Uddin, assistant director of the ACC Sylhet district office, told reporters that the scope of the looting is vast.
“Several hundred crores, even thousands of crores of taka worth of stone have been looted here,” he said. “Visitors to the area have noticed stones being removed over several days. Traders have taken them for commercial purposes, ignoring the site’s natural appeal and tourism potential.”
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Before arriving at Shada Pathar, the team saw numerous stone crusher machines operating along both sides of the road. Large stones were being broken down into smaller pieces for sale across the country.
According to the ACC, initial findings suggest that influential local figures and high-level traders are linked to the operation. The commission plans to continue its investigation and send a detailed report to its headquarters for further action.
“We are also looking into whether there was any negligence or failure on the part of the local administration,” Ashraf Uddin said.
Meanwhile, environmental group Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) organized a human chain protest in Sylhet on Tuesday to demand an end to the looting. The demonstration concluded with a memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner.
