Gold Smuggling: Syndicates at Indo-Bangla border remain unidentified
Gold smuggling continues to be a persistent issue at the Bangladesh-India border, particularly through the routes of Chawratari in Moghalhat union of Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila and Baniatari in Durgapur union of Aditmari Upazila.
On January 31 of this year, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested Azizar Rahman, a resident of Baniatari village in Durgapur union, with 45 gold bars weighing 5 kg and 248 grams worth Tk 4 crore and 5 lakh.
A case has been filed with Aditmari Police Station in connection with the incident. Police are currently investigating the issue.
Despite the arrest, the gold smuggling syndicate remains unidentified and has yet to be brought under the law. While a case has been filed, the police have not been successful in tracing the syndicate. Azizar Rahman, who is believed to be a part of the syndicate, has not cooperated with the investigation and only stated that he was handed a bag to deliver to India's Daribas area.
According to sources at the border, Azizar Rahman has been involved in the gold smuggling syndicate for a long time and used to smuggle gold from Bangladesh to India in exchange for a contract. Both countries are said to have syndicates involved in gold smuggling. These syndicates are powerful and have political involvement, they added.
Rafiqul Islam, investigating officer and OC (investigation) of Aditmari Police Station, said they are working to uncover the syndicate, but Azizar Rahman has not provided any information.
According to sources at the border, Azizar Rahman has been involved in the gold smuggling syndicate for a long time and used to smuggle gold from Bangladesh to India in exchange for a contract. Both countries are said to have syndicates involved in gold smuggling. These syndicates are powerful and have political involvement.
Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion's Commanding Officer CO Lt Colonel Mofazzal Hossain Akhand acknowledged the presence of gold smuggling syndicates at the border.
"We are sure that the person arrested with the gold knows about the syndicates," he added.
The BGB remains active in preventing gold smuggling at the border, but the lack of cooperation from those arrested makes it challenging to tackle the issue effectively, he added.
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