Stone Scandal Surveillance: White Stone Site to be Monitored Round-the-Clock
To curb rampant looting of white stones, the White Stone area will now be brought under 24-hour CCTV surveillance, announced Dr. Md. Mokhles Ur-Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.
During a visit to the Bholaganj White Stone area on Friday morning, August 22, he remarked, “It is not only theft, but wholesale looting of white stones. Whoever is involved in this incident—regardless of political party or administrative rank—no one will be spared. The White Stone area will be under round-the-clock CCTV monitoring.” He further added that special package programs will be undertaken to promote tourism at White Stone and other nearby sites.
Prior to this, a high-level investigation committee formed by the Cabinet Division visited the White Stone area. The committee was led by the Public Administration Secretary himself, accompanied by Saiful Islam, Secretary of the Department of Mineral Resources, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam, and other senior officials.
The delegation held discussions with local residents and administrative representatives while inspecting the site.
On August 20, reports surfaced of white stones worth hundreds of crores of taka being looted from the site. In response, the Cabinet Division formed a five-member inquiry committee, instructing it to identify those responsible and submit a report within 10 days. As part of this directive, the committee has already commenced on-site investigations.
According to the Cabinet Division, prolonged illegal stone extraction from the Bholaganj White Stone tourist spot and adjacent railway bunker area in Companiganj, Sylhet, has caused severe environmental damage and marred the natural beauty of the tourism site. Following multiple media reports exposing these unlawful activities, the government initiated the formal probe. The official directive further stated that the investigation must be based on field inspections, and the final report should include necessary recommendations.
