The Coast Guard has recovered saris and panjabis worth about 70.467 million taka, smuggled in from India without paying duty, in a raid on a fishing trawler in Patharghata, Barguna. A fishing trawler and a covered van used for the smuggling were seized and five people detained.
The Coast Guard confirmed the seizure at about 9am on Thursday (September 24) in a press release signed by its media officer, Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan. Those detained are Sohag Sardar, 32, of Boro Baishdia in Rangabali upazila, Patuakhali; Sagar Howlader, 38, of Moudubi in the same upazila; Manju Molla, 32, of Mohipur, Kuakata; Rezaul Gazi, 37, of Khalilpur in Kalapara upazila; and Billal Howlader, 45, of Nabankhali in Bakerganj upazila, Barishal.
According to the Coast Guard, acting on a tip-off, members of its Patharghata station carried out a raid at about 2am on Wednesday night in an area beside the Bishkhali river in Kakchira union, Patharghata. A suspicious fishing trawler and a covered van were searched and found to contain 13,507 saris and 1,466 panjabis brought illegally from India without paying duty. The estimated market value of the goods is 70.467 million taka.
The saris and panjabis, along with the trawler and covered van used for smuggling, were seized and the five people involved were detained.
Lt Cdr Sabbir Alam Sujan said all the seized items and the detained smugglers had been handed over to Patharghata police station for further legal action. The Coast Guard will continue such drives to prevent smuggling, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report