14 truckloads of sugar seized: Smuggling syndicates remain elusive

Yesterday's 'talk of the town' was the seizure of 14 trucks full of Indian sugar in Umairgaon, a suburb of Sylhet. Various questions are swirling in the minds of the countrymen about who is involved with the sugar smuggling syndicate.

Locals claim that different levels of leaders and activists of the government party are involved in the smuggling syndicate. Law enforcement agencies are also involved. Who always remain out of reach. Stay in the darkness under the lamp.

A private car and a motorcycle were seized along with the fleet of sugar trucks on Thursday (June 6). The vehicle was in the protocol of two sugar trucks. The owner of motorcycle and private car is also a local political leader. Those who have not yet been brought under the law. Discussions exist as to why this was not possible.

Routes through which sugar comes regularly: Residents of the border area said that Companyganj, Goainghat, Jaintapur, Kanighat and Jokiganj are safe routes for sugar smuggling. Law enforcement forces have conducted occasional raids and seized some sugar consignments, but most remain elusive. The shipment that was seized yesterday Thursday, many say, 'maybe this big shipment of sugar was seized due to a problem in the chain. Or it wouldn't have happened.'

According to sources, sugar is being smuggled through Mahergaon, Baramsiddipur, Turong, Narainpur, Bichnakandi, Goainghat, Sonarhat, Pantumai and Tamabil in Companyganj, Surighat, Lobhachra and Dona in Kanaighat and Atgram in Jokiganj.

How 14 trucks of Indian sugar were seized: 14 trucks of Indian sugar were seized from in front of Bhadeshwar Government Primary School in suburban Umairgaon area on Companyganj-Jalalabad road yesterday at 6 am. A private car and a motorcycle were seized. However, the police could not arrest anyone in this incident.

The leaders of the organization said that this private car belongs to Rupam Ahmed, the leader of the Sylhet Metropolitan Jubo League

According to the police, the sugar laden trucks were going to Jalalabad from Sylhet's border areas Companyganj and Goainghat. When the police gave chase, the smugglers fled leaving the truck, private car and motorcycle behind. Police operations are underway to arrest those involved in smuggling.

According to sources, 3/4 of the seized sugar trucks came from Companyganj and the rest from Goainghat border area.

Sources claim that the sugar shipment was originally supposed to come to Sylhet via Badaghat via airport bypass. However, as the truck drivers were blocked at Salutikar, they changed the route and tried to enter Sylhet via Umairgaon road. The police seized the vehicles after receiving the information.

Involved are missing:
A few members of the local Jubo League said on the condition of anonymity that the owner of the private car that was seized during the raid was the information and research editor of the Sylhet Jubo League, Rupam Ahmed. The motorcycle belongs to another Jubo League leader named Shakeel Ahad. They are followers of Alam Khan Mukti, president of the Jubo League.

Locals claim that some people were talking to the police to take away the trucks. The drivers of the 14 vehicles and their accomplices did not escape together, they were helped to escape.

Reasons for smuggling sugar:
The price of Indian stolen sugar is Rs 50 to 55 per kg. Where the wholesale price of sugar per kg in the country market is 135 to 140 taka. Retail sugar is selling at 150 Tk. Unscrupulous gangs are making thousands of crores of rupees by selling low-quality Indian sugar at high prices.

It has been claimed by the police that various steps have been taken to seize the consignment of smuggled sugar at the border.

Traders claim that the government is losing revenue of Rs 38 per kg due to smuggled sugar.

President of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce Tahmin Ahmad said that the mystery of how the sugar shipment comes through the border needs to be revealed first. It can be seen that the police often harassed the legitimate sugar shop. They help smuggled sugar go safely. First, law enforcement agencies need to be tougher to prevent smuggling.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Metropolitan Police in Sylhet, Mohammad Saiful Islam, said, 'Smugglers fled after realizing the presence of the police. No one involved in smuggling has been arrested. As motorcycle and private car numbers are available and owners will apply to repossess the trucks, it will be easy to identify them. A case will be filed in this incident.'

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Azbahar Ali Sheikh (PPM) said, 'Based on intelligence information, we seized 14 trucks full of Indian sugar. A private car and motorcycle were also seized. Sensing the presence of the police, the smugglers fled. An operation is underway to catch them.'

He also said, 'Strong efforts are being made to seize the smuggled sugar consignments coming through the border, various steps have been taken. It has been possible to seize such a large challan because of the sincerity and duty of the police.'