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They later sell the collected stones to local traders, Jannu said, adding that he has learned techniques to collect the material from his father.

“Our life depends on stone collection, as this is the only work we have to earn our livelihood,” said Salam Mia of Burimari village.

Saju Ahmed, a stone trader at Kawamari, said around 30,000 to 35,000 cubic feet of stones are collected from the river every day.

They buy the stones from the collectors and sell them to traders from different parts of the country. The livelihood of nearly 200 families of different villages depends on this business, he said.