Illicit trade flourishes as smugglers exploit Sylhet’s remote border routes

Despite sustained efforts by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to curb illegal activities, smuggling remains a persistent challenge along the Sylhet border.

A diverse array of contraband, including sugar, yaba tablets, cannabis, Phensedyl, cattle, bidi, betel leaves, sarees, and cosmetics, is being transported into Bangladesh through more than 50 border points.

Meanwhile, domestic goods such as peas, livestock, and poultry are being illicitly moved out of the country.

The BGB and law enforcement agencies regularly intercept and seize smuggled goods and detain many involved in these illicit activities.

BGB officials attribute the issue to limited transportation, insufficient manpower, and the lack of wire fencing along the border areas.

Nonetheless, in the past four to five months, the border force reportedly achieved record levels of arrests and seizures of smuggled goods.

According to local sources, the four border-adjacent upazilas of Kanaighat, Gowainghat, Jaintapur, and Companiganj serve as safe routes for smugglers, with smuggling being carried out through more than 50 points across these upazilas.

Smugglers have exploited remote and mountainous regions to establish a robust syndicate network, they said.

According to sources, smuggled goods are transported from border areas to Sylhet city, where they are distributed to different parts of the country.

Although BGB officials claim that their regular operations have significantly reduced smuggling, the seizure of 14 truckloads of sugar by law enforcement agencies in Sylhet about two and a half months ago brought the issue of “sugar smuggling” into the spotlight.

According to several sources, during the 15-year tenure of the ousted Awami League (AL) government, allegations of involvement in smuggling activities surfaced against party leaders, members of its affiliated wings such as Jubo League and Chhatra League, and even local government representatives.

Although most of its leaders and activists went into hiding after the ouster of the AL government on 5 August, smuggling still continues along this border.

There are allegations that corrupt officials within law enforcement agencies are directly facilitating smuggling operations, particularly sugar smuggling.

While law enforcement occasionally arrests carriers with smuggled sugar, the masterminds behind these operations remain beyond reach. According to local sources, in Kanaighat upazila, major smuggling points include Suroighat, Sunatanpunji, Boroband, Nunchhora, Luhajuri, Bhalukmara, Borogram, and Dona, with approximately 200 individuals reportedly involved in smuggling.

Despite arrests and seizures, curbing the smuggling operations remains a significant challenge for the border security force.

The Bisnakandi in Gowainghat upazila, a popular tourist spot, has recently gained notoriety as a safe route for sugar smuggling.

Among the border points in Sylhet where smuggled sugar is brought in without hindrance, Bisnakandi ranks at the top.

Indian smuggled sugar is brought in through multiple locations, including Nakshia Punji, Piain and Dawki Rivers, Zero Point, Lama Punji, Cluster Villages, Lalmati, Sangram Punji, Tamabil, Naljuri, and Talabari.

Allegations of involvement have surfaced against Lengura Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman, Mujib Member, Jubo League leader Delwar Hossain Loni, and others.

Before the recent floods, smuggled sugar entering these border areas was first brought to Hadarpar, from where it was transported to Haripur via trucks, pickups, or smaller vehicles. Currently, the item is directly transported to Haripur by boat and then dispatched toward Sylhet city.

In Jaintapur upazila, locals said smuggled Indian sugar regularly enters through at least 35 points in the upazila, including Mokam Punji, Alubagan, Sripur, Adarshagram, Minatila, Chagol Khauri, Kendri Temple, Kendri Katalbari, Kendri Rubber Garden, Kendri Lambatila, Dibir Haor, and Assampara.

Companiganj, another border upazila, is also implicated in smuggling activities. Locals said sugar is smuggled through several spots, including Utma, Lamagram, Majhergaon, Turang, Borma Siddhipur of Uttar Ranikhai Union, and Narainpur, Chikadahar, and Chanbari of Islampur Paschim Union.

BGB Sylhet Sector’s Additional Director (Operations) Major Md Mezbah Uddin Russel said the BGB is following headquarters’ directives and maintaining a round the clock vigilant patrol. “There is zero tolerance for smuggling,” he asserted.

Sylhet Superintendent of Police Md Mahbubur Rahman told the Daily Sun, “Once the smuggled goods enter the country, we do our best to seize them. However, we (police) have limited scope to conduct operations along the border.”

BGB 48 battalion (Sylhet) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Hafizur Rahman said, “We are always vigilant in arresting offenders. Over the past five months, we have recovered goods worth around Tk85-86 crore. Despite various challenges, Sylhet BGB continues to work tirelessly to prevent smuggling at the borders.”