Sylhet, Aug 14 (V7N) – Coordinated operations to recover looted stones in Sylhet have so far reclaimed an estimated 52,000 cubic feet of stone. The recovery efforts continued at crusher mills Thursday morning (August 14).

On Wednesday night, authorities seized approximately 40,000 cubic feet of stone from 78 trucks transporting the illegal cargo after 10 pm. Earlier, 12,000 cubic feet of stone piled near the Dhalai River were dumped back into the river. The district administration confirmed that the recovered stones will be relocated and spread in the Sadapathar area of Bholaganj, as done previously.

Meanwhile, the police arrested Alamgir Alam, chairman of East Islampur Union in Companyganj, around midnight Wednesday in connection with the looting.

Environmental activists and local businessmen estimate that about 15 million cubic feet of stone have been illegally extracted from Sylhet over the past year, with an estimated market value exceeding two billion taka.

END/SMA/AJ