Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has recovered about 200,000 cubic feet of looted stones from the Utmachhara border area of Companiganj upazila in Sylhet.

On Tuesday (August 19), a special patrol team of Utma BOP led by 48 BGB commander Lieutenant Colonel Nazmul Haque conducted a raid in Adarshgram of Companyganj. During this, a huge quantity of stored stones was recovered.

BGB sources said that Utmachara is a naturally rich area of sand and stone and is a popular tourist spot. For a long time, some local unscrupulous gangs had been illegally extracting stones from the area and storing them in different parts of Adarshpara village for smuggling. However, due to strict surveillance by the BGB in the border area, underdeveloped communication system and internal conflicts between the gangs, the looted stones could not be smuggled to different parts of the country.

The BGB also said that initially it is estimated that the amount of stones recovered is about 200,000 cubic feet. Later, a joint operation led by Sylhet District Administration Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Efrahim Iqbal Chowdhury, involving the local administration, BGB and police, is underway to accurately measure the stones and take legal action.