Biman insiders in smuggling racket!
TUESDAY'S arrest of three high level Biman officials along with two private citizens in connection with 12 November's seizure of 2.6 kg smuggled gold at Shahjalal International Airport has been a real eye-opener. The incident has blasted the myth that it is only petty Biman employees who in collusion with outside syndicates are involved in the smuggling. It also sheds some light on how the crime has been continuing unabated despite apprehension of culprits in the act from time to time at the airport. If police investigation follows the correct trail, it is believed, the camouflaged masterminds behind the smuggling syndicate could finally be unmasked.
As reported by the police, one of the private citizens held along with the Biman officials has allegedly a strong link with a Biman top brass. He is also the one who controls the smugglers' racket in the airport area. And the police believe, he is the lynchpin, who, in cahoots with some Biman officials has been running the smuggling syndicate. These are disconcerting revelations. If anything, through Tuesday's arrest of the officials we have only a glimpse of some very disturbing goings-on inside Biman. It is hardly surprising that over the last 20 months between January 2013 and August 2014, the customs department and its intelligence wing have seized more than one metric ton of gold from the Shahjalal Int'l Airport alone.
The smuggling incidents with the connivance of Biman insiders have severely damaged our national flag carrier's reputation. The kingpins have still remained beyond the reach of the law. The police this time must not fail to ferret them out.
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