Sylhet Bureau

A case has been filed against 45 smugglers, including a Union Parishad member, by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) for allegedly attacking a BGB patrol team and attempting to snatch their arms  after seizing smuggled goods—phuchka and sugar—brought from India’s Meghalaya.

The case was filed on Saturday night at Tahirpur Police Station in Sunamganj by the BGB camp commander of Laurgarh BOP under 28 BGB, Sunamganj Battalion of Sylhet Sector.The accused include: Sahibur Mia alias Sahibur Member, a professional smuggler and resident of Shimultala village in Uttar Bardal Union of the upazila; Pavel Hossain from Manigaon village of the same union; Liton Mia, Butkon Mia, Yasin Mia, Shafiqul Islam, and Ali Hossain from Baraktilla in the border hills; Tota Mia, Bulbul Mia, Abul Kalam, Jahangir, and Kajol from Borgaop Tilla border village; Fakhr Uddin, Jasim Uddin, and Sulaiman from Maharam Tilla; and 25–30 unidentified individuals.

According to BGB sources on Sunday, on Saturday night, a group of 40–45 smugglers entered Bangladesh from Meghalaya, India, with consignments of phuchka (packaged food items) and sugar. Members of BGB’s Laurgarh BOP patrol team seized the smuggled goods upon their entry.Later, the smugglers regrouped and attacked the BGB team with sickles, sharp machetes, and sticks, intending to kill and snatch back the seized goods. They managed to recover most of the phuchka and sugar sacks. One smuggler held a sickle to a BGB member’s throat and took away several sacks.Two BGB members, including a Naik, were injured in the attack.To control the situation, a BGB Naik fired one blank round from an SMG. The smugglers then injured him and attempted to snatch the SMG.Sub-inspector Hafizul Islam, in-charge of Badaghat Police Investigation Center and the investigating officer of the case, said on Sunday morning that no arrests had been made yet, but efforts were underway.