A joint operation by local authorities, including police, army, and Rapid Action Battalion, recovered nearly 12,000 cubic feet of stolen stones from Bholaganj Sada Pathor along the Dhalai River in Companiganj. These stones are being returned to preserve the area’s natural beauty. Around 80 trucks carrying stones were also stopped and inspected on Sylhet Osmani Airport Road, with illegal cargo seized.
The operation followed an emergency meeting led by the District Commissioner that approved 24-hour patrols, permanent police checkpoints, shutting down illegal stone-crushing machinery, and arrests. Despite a 2020 government ban, illegal extraction continued, reportedly backed by some political leaders. After a government change in August, quarry control shifted, leading to resumed stone extraction and environmental damage, including threats to local infrastructure. The operation aims to recover stolen stones, protect the environment, and enforce laws against illegal extraction.
