SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has achieved great success in its continuous operation against smuggling and illegal medicines at the Satkhira border. In the operation conducted by Satkhira Battalion (33 BGB) from August 14 to 20, smuggled goods worth about 70 lakh 92 thousand 300 taka, Indian liquor, mobile phones and a large quantity of illegal and expired medicines were seized.

At the same time, 9 pharmacies were fined and harmful drugs were destroyed through mobile courts. The Directorate of Drug Administration and the executive magistrates of the administration coordinated with the BGB in these operations.

The BGB said that in a joint operation in Tala Bazar on August 14, seven pharmacies were fined Tk 16,000 and a large quantity of expired medicines were seized and destroyed.

On August 15, the BGB conducted a raid in the border area and recovered 40 bottles of Indian liquor and other smuggled goods worth a total of Tk 725,000.

On August 16, BGB members seized goods worth Tk 2.551 million, including 10 bottles of Indian liquor and 52 Indian mobile phones.

On August 17, Indian medicines and other smuggled goods worth about 10 lakh 7 thousand 500 taka were seized.

On August 18, BGB fined two pharmacies in Kathonda Bazar of Sadar Upazila Tk 50,000 and seized Indian goods worth Tk 990,000 in another operation on the same day.

On August 19, 30 bottles of Indian liquor, including saris and blankets, were seized, worth a total of 8 lakh 4 thousand 700 taka.

On August 20, members of the BGB 33rd Battalion seized smuggled goods worth 10,14,100 taka, including 9 bottles of Phensedyl and 5 bottles of intoxicating syrup.

The BGB's continuous operations have dealt a major blow to the smuggling network in the border area, officials concerned believe. In addition to preventing the loss of national revenue and protecting domestic industries by preventing smuggling, the BGB is playing an important role in protecting public health by seizing illegal and expired medicines.

Local residents welcomed these initiatives of the BGB and demanded that such operations be continued in the future.

Satkhira BGB 33 Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Md. Ashraful Haque said that the goods described by the smugglers were illegally smuggled from India to Bangladesh by evading customs duties. In this way, the smuggling of Indian goods is not only damaging the domestic industry but also depriving the country of significant revenue.

The Indian goods recovered by the BGB patrol team were deposited at Satkhira Customs.