“If They Can’t Protect White Stones, How Will They Protect the Country?”: Abdun Noor Tushar

Prominent media personality, presenter, and influencer Abdun Noor Tushar has expressed sharp criticism over the looting of the famed Sada Pathar (White Stones) in Volaganj, Sylhet, questioning the government’s ability to manage the nation effectively.

In a post on his verified Facebook account at 1:26 AM on Tuesday (12 August), Tushar wrote:

“If they cannot even save a few white stones, how will they save the country?”

Looting Incident

Local sources report that the looting began on 5 August, taking advantage of administrative lapses during a student-led public movement. Over the past two weeks, Volaganj has been severely disrupted by the ongoing actions of looters.

Despite the audacity of hundreds of boats being used day and night to publicly extract sand and stones, the authorities have been unable to halt the destruction. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation on social media platforms.

A year ago, the area was abundant with stone piles. Today, those once-prosperous sites have been reduced to barren, dusty fields.

Tushar’s remarks reflect a growing concern among citizens over both the lack of governance and the rapid degradation of Sylhet’s natural heritage, highlighting the wider question of the government’s capacity to protect national resources.