United News of Bangladesh

For many visitors, a trip to Jaflong in Sylhet is about more than its rolling hills, crystal-clear streams and breathtaking views along the Bangladesh-India border. It is also an opportunity to browse bustling roadside markets packed with Indian blankets, chocolates, spices, cosmetics, and other products widely believed to have entered the country through smuggling routes. These illegal goods are displayed and sold openly in shops across the tourist destination. Law enforcement agencies, including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), are also a familiar presence in the area. Yet many tourists say their shopping experience takes an unexpected turn once they begin the journey home. Visitors allege that products purchased openly from local shops are often seized at police checkpoints on the road, as they are being labelled as illegal. The situation has left many wondering why goods that can be bought so easily in the market are later treated as prohibited. Every day, people from different parts of the country visit Jaflong to enjoy its natural beauty. Most shops in Jaflong Bazaar sell Indian products widely believed to have entered the country through smuggling routes, and tourists buy them without hesitation. Meanwhile, police regularly operate checkpoints at different locations on the Sylhet-Tamabil highway, where such goods are confiscated on the grounds that they entered the country without legal customs clearance. Tourists argue that if these products are illegal, action should first be taken against those selling them openly in the market. Instead, they say buyers who purchased the goods in good faith face questioning, confiscation and inconvenience on their return journey. The issue has created growing frustration among visitors, who say they often buy products with receipts from local shops but still encounter complications on the road. According to multiple sources, Indian goods are regularly seized in different border areas as part of ongoing drives by law enforcement agencies to prevent the illegal entry of foreign products into the country. People concerned with the region's tourism sector believe the current situation is damaging Jaflong's reputation as a tourist destination. They say the authorities should adopt a clear and consistent policy. If such illegal products are allowed to be sold in the markets, tourists should not face harassment after buying them. If the goods are illegal, they argue, enforcement should focus on the supply and sales network rather than on visitors. Inspector (Investigation) of Jaintapur Model Police Station Usman Gani said bringing foreign goods into Bangladesh, transporting them or marketing them without paying the required customs duties and taxes is a punishable offence. He said they regularly conduct operations on the Sylhet-Tamabil highway to prevent smuggling and seize illegally imported goods entering through the border. Jaflong Tourist Police in-charge Tapan Talukder said the tourist police does not have the authority to seize illegal goods. "Although we are deployed in the tourist area, our main responsibility is to maintain law and order, ensure the overall security of tourists, prevent theft and robbery, and provide necessary assistance for visitors," he said. Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ratan Kumer Adhikari said businesses must comply with government regulations to operate legally, something many traders in the Jaflong tourist area are not doing. "For this reason, we conduct drives from time to time and take legal action against those involved, including seizing Indian goods," he said.