Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled Indian goods worth over Tk 94 lakh along the borders in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. The frontier force also seized a pickup van and a microbus during the drives which continued from 12 am on Tuesday to early Wednesday. However, no one could be detained in this connection, said a media release sent from the BGB-48 Battalion on Wednesday morning. Being tipped-off, several teams of the BGB conducted drives along Banglabazar, Panthumai, Sreepur, and Sonalichela areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts and recovered the smuggled items. Read: BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 147.84 cr in Dec The suspected smugglers left the vehicles abandoned after hearing the drives of the BGB. The recovery includes Indian sugar, oranges, betel nut, liquor and others, the media release says. The drives against smuggling will continue and security has been beefed up along borders, added the release.

Bangladesh and India are now at the final stage of operationalization of the agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla ports for transit of goods to and from India. The agreement was signed between Bangladesh and India in 2018. Following completion of trial runs, necessary permanent standing order or notification would now be issued by the government of Bangladesh for the operationalization and regular movement of goods under this agreement, officials said. This is a "step forward" in realizing the commitment reiterated at the level of the two prime ministers during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in September 2022. Read India offers free transit to Bangladesh for exports to third countries