Sylhet, Aug 19 (V7N) – Once a picturesque destination known for its serene streams and natural stonebeds, Rangpani in Jaintapur upazila is now being ravaged by rampant illegal stone extraction. Following the environmental damage seen in other Sylhet tourist spots like Jaflong, Bichanakandi, and Sada Pathor, Rangpani too is on the brink of losing its natural beauty to systematic looting.
 
Located near the Bangladesh-India border, Rangpani—formerly known as Sripur—rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s as a popular film shooting location, featuring stars like Salman Shah. The area’s charm lies in the interplay of water, sand, and stones—a typical characteristic of Sylhet’s natural tourist attractions.
 
However, due to its sensitive location near the border, the area is difficult for tourists to access without clearance from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Despite this, stone theft in broad daylight has reportedly become routine, often occurring in full view of BGB patrols. According to locals, the looting started several years before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government and has continued ever since. The once-pristine terrain now bears deep pits where stones have been removed, leaving behind a scarred landscape.
 
Multiple sources from the area, speaking on condition of anonymity, allege that stone looting was previously coordinated by Awami League-affiliated groups. Currently, the operation is allegedly under the control of two local leaders of the BNP and Jubo Dal, who reportedly extort money using the names of police and BGB officials. The stolen stones are temporarily stockpiled behind the Rangpani Captain Rashid School and College, before being transported by trucks to other regions.
 
Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Jaintapur, Farzana Akter Laboni, acknowledged the issue and told the media, “We’ve conducted mobile court drives in the past. Operations are ongoing at various hotspots, and we’ll visit this particular area soon.”
 
In a separate but related incident last Sunday, joint forces conducted an operation in Sylhet’s Salutikor area, seizing approximately 11,000 cubic feet of illegally mined stone buried under soil in a crusher yard. Two individuals—Helal Ahmed (30) from Sylhet Sadar and Fahim Mia (28) from Habiganj—were detained for questioning.
 
Additionally, four people were arrested during a late-night raid on a stone trader’s residence in Bholaganj, where authorities also recovered weapons and Indian liquor. The arrestees were identified as Kutub Uddin alias Pagla Shah (54), Abdul Wahid (55), his son Zahid Ahmed (22), and Ruhel Ahmed (26). All were handed over to Companyganj police and later presented in court, according to OC Uzair Al Mahmud Adnan.
 
Meanwhile, Sylhet also marked the launch of National Fisheries Week 2025. A colorful rally was held on Monday morning, organized by the District Fisheries Office, starting from the city’s iconic Keane Bridge and ending at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. The event drew participation from government officials, political leaders, fisheries professionals, and traders.
 
A seminar followed the rally, attended by Sylhet's Additional Divisional Commissioner Debojit Singh, Deputy Commissioner Sher Mahbub Murad, Police Superintendent Mahbubur Rahman, and District Fisheries Officer Sima Rani Biswas. Speakers highlighted the vital role of the fisheries sector in Bangladesh's economy, second only to the garment industry. They noted that nearly 20 million people are directly or indirectly involved in fish farming.
 
However, fishers raised concerns about decreasing production due to the occupation of water bodies by influential groups. They called for the immediate recovery of encroached government-owned ponds and wetlands.
 
Participants also pointed out that recent floods in Sylhet severely impacted fish farmers, and the government's compensation was insufficient. Many fishers are now in debt, prompting calls for increased state support to help them recover and sustain the sector’s growth.
 
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