S A Shofiee, Sylhet:
Netizens in Sylhet have reacted strongly on social media about the rampant looting of white stones in Bholaganj under Companiganj upazila Sylhet. It is alleged that this looting, which started on August 5 last year, has taken a horrific shape in the last two weeks. There have also been allegations of involvement of local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders as well as some leaders and activists of other political parties. The party has already suspended the post of Upazila BNP President Sahab Uddin over the stone looting in the white stone area.
Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media including Facebook and YouTube show stones being lifted with spades and shovels from the zero point and bunker areas of white stone and loaded onto boats. Clashes are also taking place in some places over the share of the loot.
Locals claim that at least more than a thousand boats have been looted day and night in the last two-three months. The syndicate members are making crores of taka by selling these stones that have been washed away by the mountain currents. This threatens the environment as well as the existence of one of the country’s tourist destinations.
A Facebook user named Md. Dalim Ahmed wrote, “They have digested all the stones of this place that gave peace to the heart. The great bulls know how to eat stones. It was all over in 8-9 months. First of all, they want an apology from the advisors. As soon as the information about the stone digestion was received, all the problems would have been solved if a small army team had camped there. Besides, there were various ways to protect the white stones. The stones were also digested due to the pain of hunger for 17 years.
Rubel Hossain, one of the players of the Bangladesh cricket team, wrote on Facebook, “If there are no white stones in Sylhet, the story of the beauty of Sylhet will be lost. Stop those who loot the white stones – do not loot nature, save nature.”
Player and former president of Rotary International, Ali Wasikuzzaman Chowdhury wrote, “With the fall of the previous government, those impeccable beautiful stones of white stones started being looted.” Even though there was a little attempt to stop it at Makkhan, it did not survive. In the past few days, what was left has been dug up and stones have been looted. Along with the LC stones, these stones are also being transported by truckloads every night. At night, hundreds of trucks with stones start running on this route. I don’t know why the administration is there, what they are doing. Maybe many big heads of Sylhet’s civil society have joined in and are silent, I don’t know either. I only know that our nature is being looted.
This is how Jaflong has been finished, we were sleeping. We are still sleeping. What will the hotels, restaurants, and transport businessmen of this tourist city do when tourists don’t come in a few days?
Kasmir Reza, president of the Environment and Development Organization, wrote on social media, “The White Stone Tourist Center is now a wasteland, let alone the environment. Thousands of people’s jobs depend on tourism here. Many boatmen, boatmen, and shopkeepers will become unemployed if this tourist center does not survive. Aren’t their families important? The rich are benefiting more than the poor from this looting. It is like killing a duck that has laid an egg. On the other hand, when you talk about environmental protection, a group goes against the protesters. Good. Whatever you think is good.
F Amin, Deputy Coordinator of the Bangladesh Chapter of the World Environment Movement South Asia Region, said in his response, Sapadhar is a recognized tourist center in the country, a tourist center with clear water and rocks attracts domestic and foreign tourists. The administration is responsible for the income of this resource and tourist center. But due to the failure of the district administration, stone looting took place at this tourist spot. The district administration is fully responsible for this. I draw the attention of the higher authorities to bring those involved in stone looting and destruction of the tourist center to justice as soon as possible.
