“For Four Years I Stopped Jaflong’s Stone Extraction – Now, Even as Adviser, I Failed”

The ‘Shada Pathar’ (White Stone) area in Bholaganj, a major tourist attraction in Companiganj Upazila, Sylhet, has suffered what has been described as unprecedented plunder. Once known for its enchanting natural beauty, the site now stands almost colourless, scarred, and damaged.

Adviser Expresses Frustration

Environmental and Climate Change Affairs Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan expressed deep disappointment over the destruction. Speaking at a discussion meeting on Monday, 11 August, she said:

“For the past four years, I was able to stop stone extraction in Jaflong. Now, even as an adviser, I could not. I see an all-party consensus when it comes to extracting stones. If one wishes to learn how to take something beautiful and make it ugly, one must come to Bangladesh. I watched with my own eyes as the spectacular Jaflong was ruined. I witnessed sheer destruction.”

Lack of Justification and Statistical Evidence

Hasan criticised the lack of data to justify the large-scale extraction:

“I hear claims that these stones must be extracted. But why? There are no statistics to back this up. The numbers show that only 6% of national demand is met from these stones, with 94% imported. If we can import 94%, why can we not manage without the remaining 6%?”

Missed Opportunities for Eco-Tourism

The adviser lamented that Jaflong could have been preserved and developed as an eco-tourism site:

“Why do we go to Vietnam to see their river-based eco-tourism but fail to create the same in Jaflong? The beauty of Jaflong that we once knew is now gone for the next generation. Even here, I saw political unity — but not for protecting Jaflong. That is the reality of Bangladesh. What kind of development is this after destroying Jaflong? Whose development is it?

If we chose eco-tourism over stone extraction, we could compare the revenues. Has anyone done this comparative analysis? One Deputy Commissioner told me we could earn more from eco-tourism than from extracting stones. A person spending the whole day in water to gather stones — and we call this employment? This is exploitation. A clear case of exploitation.”

The Plunder at ‘Shada Pathar’

The ‘Shada Pathar’ area is located in Zone No. 10, near the zero line of the Bangladesh–India border at the source of the Dholai River. Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the site, drawn by its natural charm. However, extensive illegal extraction has left it visibly degraded.

According to locals in Companiganj, the looting began shortly after 5 August last year and continued day and night. Residents claim that each night, at least 100 trucks loaded with stones left Companiganj.

They allege that a local influential political leader was behind the large-scale stone plundering.