Once celebrated as Bangladesh’s “Daughter of Nature,” Jaflong is slowly losing the charm that made it a crown jewel of Sylhet’s tourism. The crystal-clear waters, the mighty boulders, and the breathtaking backdrop of the Khasi Hills – all are fading into memory.
Located in Gowainghat Upazila, Jaflong has for years drawn thousands of visitors year-round, eager to witness its turquoise streams and stone-strewn riverbed. Today, however, the landscape tells a different story.
Large stretches of the river, including the iconic Zero Point, are now choked with sandbars and stone piles. New shoals have emerged, and the river’s natural flow has shifted course. Many of the giant boulders that once defined the riverbed have vanished entirely.
Local residents point the finger at years of unchecked sand and stone extraction. Though authorities have conducted occasional drives against illegal mining, locals allege that the extraction continues unabated under the cover of darkness.
The degradation does not end at the riverbank. Illegal shops have mushroomed along the shore, while plastic waste and litter left behind by visitors pollute the once-pristine environment. Conservationists warn that unchecked human activity is eroding both the site’s natural beauty and its biodiversity.
Many visitors say the Jaflong they see today bears little resemblance to the destination they visited just a few years ago.
Environmentalists urge authorities to take decisive action – halt illegal extraction, enforce conservation laws, and restore the fragile ecosystem. Without urgent intervention, they warn, the “Daughter of Nature” may survive only in photographs and fading memories.
