High-powered taskforce to curb smuggling

The government is going to form a high-powered Central Task Force (CTF) to deal with the menace of smuggling, especially gold and drugs, in the country.
The proposed task force, led by the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), will monitor the smuggling prevention committees in districts, home ministry sources said. The home ministry has prepared a proposal for the formation of the 23-member CTF and sent it to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for approval, the sources added.
The taskforce will include the Inspector General of Police (IGP); Director Generals (DGs) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and VDP, National Security of Intelligence (NSI), the Narcotics Department and Bangladesh Coast Guard; DG of Customs Intelligence & Investigation Directorate; members of NBR; all divisional commissioners; commissioners of Customs, Excise & VAT Commissionerate; president of FBCCI; additional director of RAB; and DIG of Bangladesh Railway.
Representatives of the PMO, Bangladesh Navy, Directorate of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), commerce ministry and Bangladesh Bank; chairmen of the Civil Aviation Authority, Chittagong Seaport, Mongla Port and Bangladesh Land Port; and director (traffic) of Bangladesh Railways will also be included as taskforce members.
Goods worth USD 1 billion are being smuggled out to neighbouring countries each year. A section of the border security forces are allegedly involved in it.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent that they are taking strict measures to stop smuggling. “We've ordered the border force, law enforcement and intelligence agencies to be on alert to dismantle the smuggling rackets,” he said.
A senior intelligence official said they are keeping strict vigil at international airports, land ports and seaports of the country. He also said that smuggling has been affecting the country’s economy like a “cancer” and that it needs to be curbed at any cost.
Sources said the authorities concerned are trying to contain smuggling in cooperation with the World Custom Organisation (WCO) through the implementation of Coordinated Border Management (CBM).
According to sources, at least 150 rackets are active in gold smuggling.
Sources in the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) said they have arrested at least 4,000 people for smuggling at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the past three years. Those arrested include 89 airline employees, 396 officials of the Civil Aviation Authorities of Bangladesh (CAAB), 34 Customs and immigration officials and 240 Ansar personnel. Of the others, 95 had links with different banks and 775 with transport agencies.

High-powered taskforce to curb smuggling

The government is going to form a high-powered Central Task Force (CTF) to deal with the menace of smuggling, especially gold and drugs, in the country. The proposed task force, led by the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), will monitor the smuggling prevention committees in districts, home ministry sources said. The home ministry has prepared a proposal for the formation of the 23-member CTF and sent it to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) for approval, the sources added. The taskforce will include the Inspector General of Police (IGP); Director Generals (DGs) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and VDP, National Security of Intelligence (NSI), the Narcotics Department and Bangladesh Coast Guard; DG of Customs Intelligence Investigation Directorate; members of NBR; all divisional commissioners; commissioners of Customs, Excise VAT Commissionerate; president of FBCCI; additional director of RAB; and DIG of Bangladesh Railway. Representatives of the PMO, Bangladesh Navy, Directorate of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), commerce ministry and Bangladesh Bank; chairmen of the Civil Aviation Authority, Chittagong Seaport, Mongla Port and Bangladesh Land Port; and director (traffic) of Bangladesh Railways will also be included as taskforce members. Goods worth USD 1 billion are being smuggled out to neighbouring countries each year. A section of the border security forces are allegedly involved in it. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent that they are taking strict measures to stop smuggling. Weve ordered the border force, law enforcement and intelligence agencies to be on alert to dismantle the smuggling rackets, he said. A senior intelligence official said they are keeping strict vigil at international airports, land ports and seaports of the country. He also said that smuggling has been affecting the countrys economy like a cancer and that it needs to be curbed at any cost. Sources said the authorities concerned are trying to contain smuggling in cooperation with the World Custom Organisation (WCO) through the implementation of Coordinated Border Management (CBM). According to sources, at least 150 rackets are active in gold smuggling. Sources in the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) said they have arrested at least 4,000 people for smuggling at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the past three years. Those arrested include 89 airline employees, 396 officials of the Civil Aviation Authorities of Bangladesh (CAAB), 34 Customs and immigration officials and 240 Ansar personnel. Of the others, 95 had links with different banks and 775 with transport agencies.