Govt reviews limited stone extraction in Sylhet

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has formed a high-level committee to assess whether limited stone extraction can be allowed in selected areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj without damaging the environment or disrupting law and order.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday after a meeting on stone quarry management at the ministry, he said any decision on leasing stone quarries would strictly follow environmental laws, mining regulations and court directives.

He added that ecologically sensitive areas, including Jaflong, would remain outside any proposed leasing plan.

According to the minister, the committee will be led by the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner and include the deputy commissioners of Sylhet and Sunamganj, representatives from the Department of Environment, the Water Resources Ministry, Geological Survey authorities, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, the Mineral Resources Ministry and the police superintendents of both districts.

“The committee will conduct field-level inspections to determine where limited stone extraction may be possible without harming the environment,” he said.

The minister said the committee would also examine sediment accumulation near the India-Bangladesh border, water flow disruptions caused by sand and stone deposits, and riverbank erosion in border areas.

It will recommend safe extraction depths and identify tourist locations that should remain protected.

Referring to popular tourist destinations such as Bichanakandi, Bholaganj and the white stone areas of Sylhet, he said the government wanted to preserve their tourism value while considering future policy decisions.

He added that law enforcement agencies would be involved in preventing illegal stone extraction and what he described as “stone looting”.

The committee is expected to submit its report by the end of this month. Another meeting is scheduled for the first week of next month to decide on further policy measures.

The minister also said the government would review all ongoing legal issues related to stone quarries, including High Court directives and a pending case before the Supreme Court, before making any final decision.