Joint forces in an overnight drive on Thursday recovered 12,000 cubic feet of looted stones from Sada Pathor in Sylhet amid public outcry over rampant looting of stones from the popular tourist spot .

Besides, several trucks involved in transporting the looted stones were seized during the operation.

The joint forces started the drive in Sylhet city and Bholaganj in Companiganj upazila Wednesday midnight to recover the looted stones, said Companiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Azizunnahar.

A six-member team of joint forces conducted raids in different areas and recovered the stones.

A drive will be conducted again on Thursday under the supervision of an executive magistrate.

UP chairman held over stone theft from Sada Pathor in Sylhet

The crackdown will continue until all looted stones are recovered.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government took the decision to conduct a joint operation to recover the looted stones taken from  Sada Pathor tourist site.

A number of checkpoints were also set-up on Sylhet-Bholaganj road, near Osmani International Airport and in front of Sylhet Club where several trucks were intercepted with stones.

The unprecedented looting of stones from the protected tourist site has triggered outrage and concerns among people and environmental activists.

On Wednesday evening, the local administration held an emergency meeting and outlined several decisions to restore and protect Sada Pathor.

Earlier, the local administration formed a three-member inquiry committee on Tuesday to look into the matter.

The committee is scheduled to submit its report by Sunday (August 17).

Besides, an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) team also launched its own investigation and visited the Sada Pathor site on Wednesday.