<i>Over 1000 tortoises seized</i>
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 1002 tortoises from the Benapole frontier on Friday afternoon.
The tortoises were being smuggled into Bangladesh from the neighbouring India, Sher-e-Alam, commander of Putkhali camp of Jessore BGB 26 Battalion told this correspondent.
He said, acting on a tip-off, BGB personnel raided Putkhali village and recovered them from some abandoned bags. The tortoises are worth about Tk 2 lakh, he added.
Sensing our presence, the smugglers fled the scene, Sher-e-Alam said.
BGB handed over the tortoises to Jessore Forest Department officials yesterday morning.
District Forest Officer (DFO) Saidur Rashid said, they could not identify the verities of the seized tortoises immediately.
"We will send the tortoises to our head office at Ban Bhaban soon for details," he said.
Tortoises are smuggled into Bangladesh from India and sent abroad for sale at high rate, the DFO added.
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