Govt goes tough on smugglers

After adopting a hard line against militants following the killing of a police officer's wife in Chittagong, the home ministry has asked law enforcement agencies to take stern action against smugglers and their godfathers to unearth the mystery behind the murder of Mahmuda Akter Mitu, wife of superintendent of police Babul Akter, on June 5. The home ministry yesterday wrote to the inspector general of police (IGP), asking him to take tough measures against smugglers and their godfathers, sources in the home ministry said. According to the sources, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have now added smugglers to the list of suspects, along with militants, responsible for the killing of the police officer's wife. So far, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the murder. In the letter, the home ministry advised the IGP to take stern action against listed smugglers and their patrons, whose names were sent to the law enforcement agencies recently. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent that they would take a hard line against all criminals, including militants and smugglers. “Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are searching for the killers of the SP's wife, and they will be brought to justice soon,” he said. Sources said a number of smugglers and their godfathers were annoyed with SP Babul Akter because he had busted some of their dens and foiled operations by arresting a number of their henchmen while serving in Chittagong. The smugglers had threatened the police officer and the police suspect that they (smugglers) might have killed Babul's wife. According to the sources, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the police and intelligence agencies have prepared lists of the smugglers and their patrons in different areas, particularly in Chittagong and the northern districts.
It is alleged that a number of police and BGB personnel are directly helping several smugglers' syndicates.
Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the smugglers and their "friends" have become desperate to smuggle in arms, ammunition, drugs and essential commodities from Myanmar and India.
According to sources, Yaba tablets are being brought from Myanmar, while arms, ammunition, drugs, sugar and spices are being smuggled from India. At least 50 categories of Bangladeshi goods are being sent to India on a daily basis. These include edible oil, diesel, fertilisers, fabrics, contraceptives, DVD discs, mobile handsets, vegetable seeds, fish feed, fish varieties, including hilsa, raw hides, insecticides, jute, cycles, quilts, jerrycans, saris, water pumps, cow hair, potatoes, varieties of plants, cement, glassware, melamine products, snacks, such as chanachur, rubber, testing salt, plastic products and Akij bidi.

Govt goes tough on smugglers

After adopting a hard line against militants following the killing of a police officers wife in Chittagong, the home ministry has asked law enforcement agencies to take stern action against smugglers and their godfathers to unearth the mystery behind the murder of Mahmuda Akter Mitu, wife of superintendent of police Babul Akter, on June 5. The home ministry yesterday wrote to the inspector general of police (IGP), asking him to take tough measures against smugglers and their godfathers, sources in the home ministry said. According to the sources, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have now added smugglers to the list of suspects, along with militants, responsible for the killing of the police officers wife. So far, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the murder. In the letter, the home ministry advised the IGP to take stern action against listed smugglers and their patrons, whose names were sent to the law enforcement agencies recently. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent that they would take a hard line against all criminals, including militants and smugglers. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are searching for the killers of the SPs wife, and they will be brought to justice soon, he said. Sources said a number of smugglers and their godfathers were annoyed with SP Babul Akter because he had busted some of their dens and foiled operations by arresting a number of their henchmen while serving in Chittagong. The smugglers had threatened the police officer and the police suspect that they (smugglers) might have killed Babuls wife. According to the sources, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the police and intelligence agencies have prepared lists of the smugglers and their patrons in different areas, particularly in Chittagong and the northern districts. It is alleged that a number of police and BGB personnel are directly helping several smugglers syndicates. Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the smugglers and their friends have become desperate to smuggle in arms, ammunition, drugs and essential commodities from Myanmar and India. According to sources, Yaba tablets are being brought from Myanmar, while arms, ammunition, drugs, sugar and spices are being smuggled from India. At least 50 categories of Bangladeshi goods are being sent to India on a daily basis. These include edible oil, diesel, fertilisers, fabrics, contraceptives, DVD discs, mobile handsets, vegetable seeds, fish feed, fish varieties, including hilsa, raw hides, insecticides, jute, cycles, quilts, jerrycans, saris, water pumps, cow hair, potatoes, varieties of plants, cement, glassware, melamine products, snacks, such as chanachur, rubber, testing salt, plastic products and Akij bidi.