Teknaf, Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Battalion No. 23 of Teknaf seized smuggled goods worth Tk. 2.5 million in two months from various entry points of Teknaf. Cases were filed against 235 persons and 19 people were arrested since December 2007 to January 2008, according to officials.

The BDR operated in several entry points and seized the goods over two months.

On February 7, a meeting was held in Teknaf upazila for seizure of smuggled goods and the Teknaf Upazila Officer Mohammed Altaf Hossain Chawdary presided over the meeting

Journalists, government officers, advocates, the company commander of BDR and non-government officers and some elders of the town attended the meeting.

At the meeting, some participants requested the concerned authorities that security on the Bangladesh-Burma border be tightened and the operation should continue.

According to sources, last December 2007, BDR seized smuggled goods worth Tk. 9,910,633, of which Tk. 5,178,724 was from smuggled goods to Burma and Tk. 4,731,909 was from smuggled goods to Bangladesh from Burma. They also arrested 11 persons. However, 9 persons managed to escape. Cases were filed against 113-persons in concerned police stations.

In January 2008, BDR seized smuggled goods worth Tk. 14,964,780, of which Tk. 8959751 was from smuggled goods to Burma   and Tk.60, 529 was from smuggled goods to Bangladesh from Burma. Cases were filed against 119 people and eight persons were arrested while 21 smugglers managed to escape.