Sylhet: Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam announced today that approximately 26 lakh cubic feet of looted stones from Bholaganj Sada Pathor have been successfully recovered. He shared this information while addressing reporters during a visit to the Sada Pathor area this afternoon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the recovery follows a three-day ultimatum issued by the Sylhet district administration for the voluntary return of the stones, which concluded this evening. On the final day of the deadline, Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam inspected the Sada Pathor area, reporting that 6.5 lakh cubic feet of stones were voluntarily returned by the public, while the remaining 1.9 million cubic feet were recovered through other efforts.
The deputy commissioner emphasized that legal action will commence starting tomorrow against those implicated in the stone looting. He acknowledged the challenges in restoring Sada Pathor, noting that 11 lakh cubic feet of stones have been replaced thus far, with plans to complete the restoration within a week. Currently, 500 workers, 400 boats, and over 300 trucks are engaged in the restoration process daily.
Alam expressed hope that the beauty of Sada Pathor would be largely restored once all the stones are replaced, although he admitted it would be challenging to replicate the stones’ original natural arrangement. He reiterated the commitment to bringing those responsible for the looting to justice.
Regarding the district administration’s investigation, Alam disclosed that the findings have been submitted to higher government authorities and that a high-level probe committee is actively investigating the incident.