Sada Pathor in Sylhet, famed for its dazzling white stones along the Dhalai River, has long been a magnet for tourists and nature enthusiasts. Beyond its natural charm, the area also serves as a major hub for stone and sand mining, with dozens of stone-crushing machines lining the Companiganj-Bholaganj highway. In the Dhalai and Piyan rivers, large-scale extraction is carried out with heavy machinery, locally known as Boma Machines, cutting deep into the riverbeds.
In recent days, Sada Pathor has drawn national attention as thousands of tons of stone have reportedly been looted, leaving the once-scenic site stripped of its appeal. Allegations point to the involvement of local politicians and sections of the administration, accused of directly or indirectly facilitating the illegal extraction. Public outcry is mounting, with many questioning whether stone mining should be halted entirely to preserve this natural treasure or allowed under strict regulation and long-term planning.
Amid these debates, a sharper question has emerged for the media itself: why did it remain silent during the prolonged period of illegal looting until the issue became a national controversy? Was this silence the result of external pressure? If so, the truth behind that silence, too, demands to be uncovered. Just weeks ago, an adviser to Bangladesh's interim government openly admitted the state's failure to curb illegal stone extraction in the Sada Pathor and Jaflong regions. Allegations persist that political parties, regardless of affiliation, have shown equal complicity in the trade. Calls are now mounting for a full investigation, with demands that those responsible face legal consequences.
On a different note, another government adviser stressed the potential of eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative, arguing that reviving Sylhet's tourist spots could create two to three times more jobs than stone collection. Yet experts caution that without careful planning and the creation of alternative livelihoods, any abrupt halt could destabilize the local economy.
The dilemma is not new. During a study with BUET two years ago on sedimentation impacts in Companiganj and Gowainghat, it was found that stone collection in SadaPathor, Bisnakandi, and Jaflong had been officially banned even manual extraction. But the ban was widely unpopular among locals. A 27-year-old former collector revealed that individuals could earn Tk 1,000-2,000 in just a few hours of manual labor, with peak daily earnings reaching Tk 7,000-8,000. Over the past fifteen years, many marginalized families have risen to prosperity, as evidenced by brick houses in villages like Paschim Islampur.
Perhaps most troubling is the social shift: in areas around Sada Pathor, agriculture is steadily losing ground, with residents increasingly abandoning farming in favor of the quick profits of stone extraction. This dependency underscores the challenge policymakers face balancing environmental protection with the urgent need for sustainable, alternative employment.
Satellite data from the last three decades paint a stark picture of Sylhet's river systems. Sand-filled land in the Dhalai, Om-Piyan-Dawki, and Sari-Gowain floodplains has increased by 904 percent, causing a 42 percent loss of wetlands and breaking vital channel connections. Mining activities are the main driver, with heavy machines digging deep pits and creating artificial ponds mistaken for natural ones.
The unplanned extraction has severely altered the Dhalai and Piyan rivers, destroying their natural flow and reducing water-carrying capacity. As a result, massive amounts of sand are deposited on floodplains, irrigation systems are disrupted, and flash floods have become more frequent and intense due to reduced flood retention.
To justify continued stone collection, some locals claim that the stones in the region are a natural gift, continuously carried downstream by the river, and that stopping extraction would disrupt the river's natural course and flow. Many also believe that the long-term closure of stone extraction would increase flood intensity by clogging the river channel. Mass people strongly opposed this view, explaining that the illegal and indiscriminate extraction of sand, soil, and stones has altered both the natural flow and the physical characteristics of the rivers, resulting in increased flood severity. Although published evidence suggests that unplanned and indiscriminate mining contributes to sedimentation-induced flooding, there is a lack of comprehensive research to determine whether excessive stone accumulation in the riverbed worsens the severity and intensity of floods in Sylhet. Nevertheless, as this concern is widely raised, thorough research is needed to establish strong evidence from the government's side.
Sylhet's quarries supply barely six percent of Bangladesh's stone demand, raising questions over the justification of destroying such priceless natural resources for so little gain. Stone collection in the region has a long history, dating back to the limestone trade before the British era. Yet never before has Sylhet faced a crisis of this magnitude. The sudden collapse of the industry has sparked concern: why did the government fail to act decisively in the early stages, and who should be held accountable? Some also suspect a "third force" may be exploiting the turmoil for its own interests.
To protect Sada Pathor, immediate and strict action is essential. Those involved in illegal stone extraction must be prosecuted under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Sections 6A and 15), the Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 379 and 430), or other special laws addressing illegal extraction and environmental damage. Offenders may face imprisonment, fines, or both, as prescribed under these laws. The Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Department of Environment (DoE) must ensure full enforcement, including digital surveillance and regular patrols across all vulnerable areas.
Additionally, alternative employment opportunities have to be provided to those who have recently lost their jobs. If current employment opportunities cannot accommodate everyone, the remaining individuals must be brought under government assistance. To ensure long-term preservation, stone mining must be completely halted until the ecosystem has fully recovered. In the meantime, thorough research should be conducted to determine the number of stones coming from upstream, their types and grades, the quantity and frequency of stone arrivals, the specific river sections and seasonal periods suitable for collection, and the extraction amounts and rates that will not compromise river morphology, ecology, and biodiversity.
A yearly assessment report has to be prepared and reviewed by the relevant government authorities the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) who will provide scores indicating the status of the specific listed sites. Training sessions, seminars, and symposiums should be conducted to raise awareness among the local community about the importance of environmental protection, their responsibilities, and the proper maintenance of ecologically significant areas. Moreover, a zone-wise master plan is needed, based on future projections of tourist pressure, climate change, hydrological processes, and population growth, incorporating socio-economic analysis.
The choice is clear: will Bangladesh chart a course toward preservation, or continue down the path of plunder?
Md Nabil Shad, Researcher, IWRM & Water Security, GWP-South Asia and Shibbir Ahmed Tashfik , Teacher and Researcher
