Stone Looting in Sylhet: Syndicate Dominated by BNP, Awami League, Jamaat, and Coordinators

Staff Reporter: Asif Mahmud | 19 August 2025

Shah Arefin Hill in Sylhet—once a historic hillock with a 700-year-old mazar—has now vanished, reduced to rubble. In just one year, over 15 million cubic feet of stone have been looted from this site. Investigations reveal alarming details: leaders and activists from BNP, Awami League, Jamaat, and coordinators claiming to be part of anti-discrimination movements were all involved in the plunder.

Government Lease Despite Law

Although a law was passed in 1995 to protect the hill, Shah Arefin Hill was officially leased out in 1999. Activities were temporarily halted due to litigation but resumed freely on 5 August 2024. Within a year, the entire hill has disappeared.

Syndicate Dominance

An investigation by Jamuna Television revealed that a powerful syndicate of at least 20 people was directly involved in the looting. Members include Upazila Jubo Dal Joint Convenor Babul Ahmed Babul, Union BNP General Secretary Sebul Ahmed, Awami League Religious Affairs Secretary Hushiar Ali, Jubo League President Faizur Rahman, Jamaat activist Yakub Ali, and others.

Profitable Operation

The syndicate earned roughly 12.5 million BDT daily by extracting, transporting, storing stones on rented land, and selling them to mills. While one boatload of stones sold for 8,000 BDT, workers were paid only 2,000 BDT.

Involvement of BNP, Awami League, and Jamaat

The investigation identified multiple political figures involved, including Upazila BNP President Sahab Uddin, District Jubo Dal Joint General Secretary Bahar Ahmed Ruhel, Upazila Jubo Dal Convenor Sajjad Dudu, Awami League leader Dulal Mia of Kalaigar, Upazila Awami League member Aminul Islam, and Swechchhasebak League leader Shahabuddin. Local members of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Jamaat were also reportedly directly involved.

Questionable Role of Administration

The administration was reportedly inactive during the looting. July footage shows stone extraction from the river in front of the Upazila Executive Officer, who was later tasked with investigating the case. Allegations of extortion against the police have also surfaced.

Environmentalists’ Outrage

Shah Saheda Akter, Divisional Coordinator of Bela, said, “Those involved have changed their faces, but the illegal activities have not stopped.”

Severe Damage

Not only Shah Arefin Hill, but stones were also looted from Jaflong, Sadapathar, and Rangpani, totaling nearly 30 million cubic feet. Only 500,000 cubic feet have been recovered; the rest has already been sold or crushed.

Government Under Scrutiny

Locals argue that such extensive looting could not have occurred without the protection of administration and political influencers. The pressing questions now are: who will take responsibility for the destruction of Shah Arefin Hill, and can the country ever recover the billions of BDT worth of natural resources lost?