Teknaf, Bangladesh: Goods from Bangladesh are being smuggled to Burma during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, said a local trader from Teknaf who declined to say his name.
“Everyday, sugar, fertilizer, diesel, edible oil, onions, garlic, green chilies, kerosene, and vermicelli are being smuggled to Burma, while narcotic drugs, alcohol, many kinds of cosmetics, Yaba methamphetamine tablets, and slippers have been smuggled to Bangladesh.”
“The goods are being smuggled to Burma from many porous border points with Bangladesh such as Teknaf, Ukhiya, Moricha, Palong Khali, Balu Khali, Tank Khali, Whaikhong, Court Bazaar, Nila, and Shapuri Dip. The goods from Burma are also being smuggled to Bangladesh from these points.”
During Ramadan month, the Bangladeshi people are facing many difficulties causing the prices of edible oil, sugar, and onions to rise. Some of the smugglers are smuggling for their self-interest; they are smuggling said items to Burma while ignoring the suffering of the people, said Bahadur Meah, a schoolteacher from the border.
A local villager from the border area said, “We have to buy sugar, onions, and edible oil at high prices from the local market because of the smuggling of these items to Burma”.
“The Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) has been trying to curb the smuggling at the border areas for a long time, but they have failed so far as the border is very long.”
However, the BGB personnel recently seized 55,000 liters of edible oil from the border while it was being smuggled to Burma, and also 500 liters of alcohol was seized at the border while being smuggling to Bangladesh. Besides, frequently Yaba tables are being seized at Teknaf, Cox’s Bazaar, and Chittagong by the police, BGB and RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), said a businessman from Cox’s Bazaar.
“The smugglers are very active during Ramadan because BGB personnel are inactive due to the holidays,” said a local elder named Ramim from the border area.
In legal way, at present, from Teknaf land port, chickpeas, pickles, fish, ginger, and wood have been coming from Burma to Bangladesh, said a worker from Teknaf.
Bangladesh established a legal border trade with Burma area at Teknaf in an attempt to curb the illegal trading between the two countries in 1995. However, much smuggling continues to go on between the two countries.
