MEHERPUR, Dec 28: Smuggling is increasing day by day in the district.
Meherpur is surrounded by Indian border along with barbed wire fence. The barbed wire fencing border areas are used to light up at night, with 24 hours BGB patrolling. Sometimes joint patrolling goes by BGB and BSF along the border.
Despite all security measures, activities of smugglers have gone up. The smuggling is taking place in daytime also. Smugglers carry out their illegal activities by cutting barbed wire fence.
Gold, US dollar, and different types of birds are smuggled into India. Some border people are getting involved with it.
A smuggler appointed lineman said, on condition of anonymity, the smuggling is increasing due to the large border area. Gold, dollar, are different types of birds are going to India from Bangladesh, he added.
Cows, aphrodisiac tablets, and phensedyl are coming from India. A few days back, smugglers crossed the barbed wire at Sonapur border in Mujibnagar Upazila.
An investigation found several people of Anandabas Village of Mujibnagar Upazila involved in smuggling. Many of those involved in smuggling are registered in the BGB list.
A college student from Jaipur Village in the upazila said, many people are involved in smuggling. Some local representatives are also associated.
They are working as labourers only for a small amount of money. The main smugglers are always out of reach.
Anandabas BGB Camp Commander Abu Zafar said, "Our border patrol is very strong. But opportunists carry out criminal activities whenever they get the chance. We are trying to build a resistance together with the local people."
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mujibnagar Police Station Ujjal Kumar Dutta said, efforts are on to identify the main person. Appropriate measures will be taken under the law, the OC added.
