Photo : Collected
In the largest land port of the country, Benapole, 3 out of 4 scanning machines, crucial for securing import-export trade and passenger traffic with India, have remained dysfunctional for the past four months. The broken machines, including a container mobile scanning device valued at Tk 5 crore, have significantly compromised the security of the port, leading to a surge in various irregularities, notably gold smuggling.
The container mobile scanning machine, installed by the Chinese government in April 2020 at a cost of Tk 5 crore, was accompanied by a three-month training program for customs officers conducted by a Chinese engineer. However, after initial operation, the machines abruptly ceased functioning, and despite several pleas from customs authorities to the National Board of Revenue for repairs, the equipment has languished inoperable.
The lapse in security has had serious repercussions, with Petrapole, India, witnessing an increase in illegal activities, including gold smuggling, due to the weakened security system at Benapole port. According to Benapole Customs sources, over the last four months, 25 smugglers have been apprehended, with 3 detained by Bangladesh Customs and BGB members and 22 by the Border Security Force (BSF) in India, responsible for guarding the Petrapole port and customs security.
Among the detained individuals, 15 were Bangladeshi passport holders carrying gold bars, 6 were Indian passport holders, and 4 were Indian cargo truck drivers. Recent incidents include the January 21 arrest by BSF of Shyamoli NR Paribahan employees – driver Monirul Islam, helper Rasik Mondal, and supervisor Habibur – transporting 99 advanced mobile phones. On January 13, two Chittagong passport holders were apprehended by BSF with 200 grams of gold, and on January 9, BSF arrested 5 Indian women with passports, confiscating 300 grams of gold.
Recent incidents of smuggling include the arrest of an Indian truck driver, Kalyan Roy, on December 22, with 2 gold bars. On December 5, Indian passport holder Mohammad Kunli Aduka was apprehended with 600 grams of gold. Notably, on December 4, Indian police intercepted a truck destined for Bangladesh carrying 1250 kg of cannabis. The trend continues with multiple arrests in November, including Indian truck driver Suraj Mogke with 7 kg of gold bars, and Abdul Jahab Mallik with 17 gold bars on November 27. An Indian truck driver named Sanjeev was arrested on September 26 with 6 gold bars. Shyamoli NR Paribahan driver Mohammad, Delwar, and supervisor Samim Mahmud were arrested along with 11 gold bars. On October 13, BSF apprehended 4 Bangladeshi passport holders with 22 gold bars and 4 bracelets, and on October 11, BGB arrested a passport holder named Manik Mia with 90 thousand US dollars.
Officials reveal that four scanning machines were installed at Benapole port to enhance security in trade and passenger movement. One mobile scanner, situated at the goods entry gate, is equipped to detect chemicals, drugs, weapons, and falsely declared goods in cargo trucks. Three additional scanning machines at Benapole check post and railway station were intended to prevent smuggling on the international immigration-customs route. Unfortunately, these machines have been non-operational for the past four months, exacerbating the security lapse.
The non-functional scanning machines have not only facilitated smuggling but also increased safety risks on the roads. Customs officials express helplessness in preventing smuggling due to the inoperative scanners. C&F Agent Association's Checkpost International Secretary, Sultan Mahmud Bipul, highlights that the activation of scanning machines is crucial to curbing smuggling and ensuring road safety.
C&F businessman Alhaj Habibur Rahman points out that smugglers exploit the damaged scanning machines to make false declarations and bring extra products into the country during import trade, causing a substantial loss of government revenue.
Benapole land port director, Rezaul Karim, emphasizes the urgency of repairing the scanning machines, noting that the daily movement of 6,000 passport holders and over 600 truckloads of goods between India and Bangladesh require effective scanning to prevent smuggling and secure trade.
While Boni Amin, Benapole office manager of Fiber Associates, cites the need for a significant amount of money to repair the scanning machines, customs authorities must take immediate measures to reactivate the scanning process, fulfilling their responsibility as per the agreement.
Mohammad Hafizul Islam, joint commissioner of Benapole Custom House, said, "We have written several times to the National Board of Revenue to repair the container scanning machine. Hope it can be repaired as soon as possible.”
Messenger/Fameema
