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Bangladeshi influencers are taking refuge in India in exchange of millions of rupees

A report of Anandabazar on Wednesday has informed this sensational information

Many influential MPs and politicians of the Awami League are suffering from the fear of arrest after Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister in the face of the student movement and fled to India. Many have already been arrested by the police in various cases.

In such a situation, influential MPs and politicians who are in hiding are crossing into India with the help of active syndicates on both sides of the Indo-Bangladesh border in exchange of huge sums of money. They also charge Tk 5 lakh to 10 lakh to the members of the syndicate circle in exchange for crossing the border.

On Wednesday, a report of Bengali daily Anandabazar of West Bengal has informed this sensational information. It details the escape of a Bangladeshi MP and his family to India with the help of a border syndicate. However, Anandabazar did not reveal the identity of the Bangladeshi MP.

According to the report, an MP from Kasharibazar in Meherpur district of Bangladesh called a house in Kathulibazar area bordering West Bengal. In the unstable situation of the country, he left the country for a few days with his wife and four children and sought ‘safe haven’ in India. After a while, the call came from Kathulibazar to Rautbati village in Karimpur-2 block of Nadia. It takes about five minutes of discussion between the person on both ends of the phone. The decision to allow the MP to cross the border into India is finalized after briefly knowing the ‘profile’, political risk, financial capacity of the person seeking asylum.

At that time, it was informed that the MP’s family members would have to spend one lakh rupees each in Indian currency to come to India. Besides, as long as you stay in the ‘safe haven’, you will have to pay 10 lakh rupees monthly to avoid the attention of the Indian Border Guard Force (BSF) and the West Bengal Police! After negotiating the amount of money, it was decided that each person should pay 70 thousand rupees in exchange for crossing the border. And 5 lakh taka per month should be paid for shelter.

That MP of Bangladesh agreed to the proposal of this syndicate circle in the area near the border of West Bengal. Later on Monday night, he left for the border with his family from Meherpur Sadar. After waiting for a day in a village in Bangladesh, the MP and his family reached a village in West Bengal through the open border via Kathuli and Kulberia. Bangladesh’s Mainuddin (name changed) and West Bengal’s Devanshu (name changed) succeeded in this sensational ‘operation’ within 24 hours.

Anandabazar wrote that the influential people of Bangladesh are migrating to India in such an illegal way in the current situation of the country. Multiple circles are working to deliver them safely. The gang members are taking various sums of money from Bangladeshis in exchange for crossing the border. Some are taking lakhs of taka per head, some are taking 50,000. And the border guarding force of India, BSFO, is also aware of this cycle. BSF has already arrested some people involved in this gang.

This Bengali daily of West Bengal says that a new ‘syndicate’ of illegally crossing the border has been created taking advantage of the unstable situation in Bangladesh. Some are spending 2 thousand taka for crossing and shelter (they don’t stay for long), some have to pay 2 lakh taka (for long stay). The members of the circle determine the amount of money by understanding the financial compatibility and social contacts of the concerned person.

Sheikh Nazim (name changed) did business in Kathulibazar area. He told Anandabazar, “We know all these areas like the palm of our hands. Where there is barbed wire, where there is not, all memorized. I also know where the traffickers have cut the barbed wire.

In his words, “In this monsoon, the Bhairab river is toitumbur. The river is wide open. Those who want to go to India from Bangladesh, with acquaintances and relatives

We are just crossing the border keeping in touch. The rest is their responsibility.

When asked how much money is being taken to allow them to cross the border and enter India, Nazim said, “There is risk on both sides. So the sharing of money is also equal.

Devanshu, a resident of the West Bengal border and a member of a smuggling ring, said, “We have agricultural land across the barbed wire. I travel every day. From there several acquaintances, relatives offered to pay big money to come to India. We brought it here just passing through. It is not our responsibility to keep. Other people see that.”

About avoiding the attention of BSF and police, Debanshu said, “BSF is now very alert. That’s right. But we have a good relationship with everyone in the village. So no one will open their mouth if they know that I have sheltered someone.” But the work is unethical? In response to such a question, he said, “Those who are coming from Bangladesh are really in danger. It is the duty of people to shelter people in danger!

According to Anandabazar report, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ‘close’ or supporters of the political party Awami League are now under the watchful eyes of Bangladeshi activists and law enforcement agencies. Arrest warrants have also been issued against many influential figures of Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. The administration of Bangladesh issued a look-out notice in the border area. The interim government of Bangladesh is not allowing people who are not associated with politics to leave the country without urgent need.

However, in various villages bordering West Bengal, local residents have expressed concern about these ‘sudden guests’. Although no one wants to open their mouths out of fear. The BSF is also concerned about illegal infiltration in ‘new ways’. Sensing the presence of syndicate gangs, patrolling has increased in the border areas.

BSF South Bengal Frontier DIG AK Arya said, “Patrolling in the border areas has been increased several times due to the turbulent situation in neighboring countries. We have increased public relations with the residents of the border villages. BSF is trying to keep track of all kinds of infiltration. The jawans have also stopped some illegal intrusions. Several people have been arrested. However, there is no news of any tense situation in the border area at the moment.”

How active is Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in preventing illegal entry? BGB Deputy Director General (Communication) Colonel Shafiul Alam Parvez told Anandabazar Online, “Those who are doing illegal and wrongful acts by abusing political power, action will be taken against them as per law.”

He claimed, “In most cases, the accused are leaving Bangladesh and taking shelter in India. We will request the Indian government to ensure that the accused persons in Bangladesh do not get political asylum in any way.”