Sylhet, Aug 29 (V7N) — The High Court has directed the relevant ministries to submit a comprehensive report by October 22 regarding the recovery of looted white stones from the Volaganj tourist site in Companyganj, Sylhet.

A High Court bench, comprised of Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Aynun Nahar Siddiqua, issued the order following the presentation of a brief progress update by the Secretary of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Environment. The report filed stated that approximately 1,500 to 2,000 individuals had looted stones from the Sada Pathor area of Volaganj. In response, legal action is being pursued under Section 93(1) of the Mines and Mineral Resources (Control ‑ Development) Act, 1992, and its 2012 rules, against 2,000 persons.

The report further detailed that a formal case was filed at Companyganj Police Station on August 15. On August 21, a six-member committee was formed to assess environmental and financial damage. The committee is chaired by the Additional Secretary (Operations) of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and includes a professor from BUET.

Supreme Court directives previously mandated the recovery of looted stones within seven days and creation of a list of culpable persons. The recent submission highlighted that restoration efforts are underway, the culpability list is being compiled, and surveillance across the quarry site has been intensified.

Upon reviewing the report, the petitioner’s counsel, Manzil Morshed, criticized it for being overly terse and incomplete, noting that the list of culprits was missing and that not all stones had been recovered. He contended that it could not be regarded as a full or satisfactory report.Consequently, the High Court has scheduled a final full progress report by October 22 and expects all directives to be comprehensively addressed by that deadline.

The initial order, issued on August 14 in response to a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), demanded the return of looted stones within seven days, the identification of those responsible, and legal action. It also called for the restoration of stones and heightened surveillance in the area.

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