Unplanned stone extraction is rapidly destroying farmland in Panchagarh, particularly in Tetulia upazila, as demand for construction materials rises. Farmers and contractors are digging 30–40 feet deep pits in cultivable land to extract stones, often without permission or regulation. The practice has already reduced agricultural land and production, prompting warnings from environmentalists that Tetulia’s farmland could be halved if immediate action is not taken.
According to local data, Tetulia upazila covers 18,912 hectares, of which 14,839 hectares are arable. However, much of this land is being converted for tea cultivation or left fallow after stone extraction. The Bangladesh Tea Board reports that 4,700 acres in Panchagarh are now under tea cultivation, mostly in Tetulia. Industrial land purchases and unutilized plots along highways have further reduced cultivable areas.
Environmental experts and local educators have urged stronger public awareness and enforcement of land-use rules. The district administration stated that it is maintaining strict monitoring to prevent farmland from becoming barren due to unregulated extraction.
হোসেন রায়হান, পঞ্চগড় প্রকাশ : ১৩ এপ্রিল ২০২৬, ০৯: ৩৫ উন্নয়ন কাজে পাথরের চাহিদা বেড়ে যাওয়ায় কৃষিজমি ধ্বংস করে পঞ্চগড়ে চলছে পাথর উত্তোলন। এতে কমে যাচ্ছে কৃষিজমি। কমছে কৃষি উৎপাদন। জানা গেছে, ভূগর্ভস্থ পাথর দেশের বিভিন্ন জেলায় উন্নয়নমূলক কাজে সহায়তা করছ
The ‘1 Nojor’ media platform is now live in beta, inviting users to explore and provide feedback as we continue to refine the experience.
