A member of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) who sustained injuries after being shot by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Dhannokhola border under Benapole upazila of Jashore early Monday (January 22, 2024), succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in India, BGB said today (January 23, 2024). The deceased, Raisuddin, 35, was posted at the BGB-49 Battalion in Jashore, said a media release signed by Lt Col Md Jamil, commander of the 49 Battalion. According to the release, a patrol team of the paramilitary force challenged a gang of cattle smugglers when they were intruding into Bangladesh from India, adjacent to Jhelepara post area under the Benapole upazila, around 5:30 am on Monday. Read more: BGB distributes warm clothes among destitute people in St Martin's Island At one stage of the chase, the smugglers went back inside Indian territory, it reads, adding that BGB personnel Raisuddin got separated from the patrol team amid dense fog. Though initially he was not found, later it was known through several sources that he was injured in BSF firing and was undergoing treatment in an Indian hospital. Shortly after the incident, a bilateral flag meeting on commander-level was held between the BGB and the BSF, according to the release. He died while undergoing treatment in the hospital, it was confirmed. The BGB demanded proper investigation into the incident and sent a protest note to their Indian counterparts, the press release reads. Process is underway to bring the BGB personnel’s body back home soon, it added. Read more: BGB's seized contraband in Dec 2023 worth over Tk 266 crore

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested three suspected  smugglers along with 4 gold bars weighing 2.9 Kg  from Daulatpur border of Benapole in Jessore district on Wednesday morning, The arrestees were Saidur Rahman Majed, 33, son of Mohiuddin of Pirojpur village of Jhenaidah district, Saiful Islam, 36, son of Nasir Ali of Bagdanga village in Jessore Sadar upazila and Masud Chowdhury Babu, 31, son of Rezaul Chowdhury of Nischintapur village in Sharsha upazila of Jessore. Read: BGB seizes six gold bars worth Tk58 lakh near Satkhira border A special BGB patrol team arrested the three suspects from a private car around 11 am,  said Lt Col Tanvir Rahman, commander of Khulna-21 BGB battalion.Later, the gold bars worth Tk 2.65 crore were seized searching their bodies. Read: BGB recovers Indian sarees, cosmetics worth Tk 4cr along Sylhet border With this, 21 BGB Battalion seized 112 kg of gold worth Tk 100 crore in the last one year. A case will be filed with Benapole Port Police Station and the gold will be deposited to the treasury branch of Jessore, the BGB official said.  

A customs official, who received death threats from members of a smuggling syndicate, lodged a general diary (GD) with local police station seeking security. Deputy Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, Md Abdul Quaiyum lodged the GD with Benapole Port Police Station on Sunday night. Mohamamd Azizur Rahman, Commissioner of Benapole Customs, said “The passengers did not face any trouble but allegations were found from those who brought smuggled goods dodging tax as they failed to bring their goods due to a strict monitoring system. Also read: Omicron surge in India slams travel through Benapole land port Benapole is a safe route for smugglers as they illegally bring goods worth Tk several lakh in luggage and hence they are called “luggage party.” After taking charge joint Commissioner Abdur Rashid seized smuggled goods worth over Tk one crore and realized Tk 20 lakh as revenue tax, which made the smugglers angry, he said. Quaiyum said Indian smugglers come with business visa and sold their goods in Benapole before returning home. Also read: Trade through Benapole land port suspended The syndicate also carried out attacks on some customs officials who seized their goods, causing immense sufferings to the travellers who use the route.

Rapid Action Battalion has arrested two members of a smuggling syndicate with 18 deer hides from Bagerhat. The arrest was made during a raid at Kashem Plaza Market in Barakpur Bazar of Bagerhat Sadar on Thursday night. Read: 4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Sundarbans The arrestees are Abdul Hakim, 50, son of Rafiz Uddin of Baharbunia village in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat and Kamrul Islam, 35, son of Ali Mia Hawladar of Sonatala village in Sharankhola upazila. According to RAB, they are members of a syndicate of deer meat and hide smugglers. Two smartphones, Tk 2,000 cash and 18 deer hides were seized at from the smugglers, said a RAB-6 media release on Friday Khulna RAB-6 Assistant Director (Media) ASP Bazlur Rashid said that the RAB on a tipoff trading deer hides, raided the market. Sensing the presence of the RAB, the members of the syndicate tried to flee. However, RAB team managed to arrest the two smugglers and found 18 deer hides in two large plastic bags, he said. The ASP further said that the smugglers over primary interrogation admitted that they used to collect deer hides and meat from the Sundarbans and sell it in different parts of the country. The two smugglers, including deer hides, have been handed over to Bagerhat Sadar Model Police Station for legal action, he added. Read: Father-son arrested with deer meat in Bagerhat Earlier on January 23 this year, Bagerhat district police raided Sharankhola and arrested two poachers with 19 deer hides. Deer hunting has increased in the Sundarbans since the time of the Covid pandemic. Poachers use traps and poison baits to hunt deer. Slaughtering those inside the forest they sell the meat at the locality and the hides are smuggled.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 224 alleged smugglers in connection with seizing smuggled goods, including drugs and firearms worth Tk 48.14 crore from across the country last month.