File photo.
Special Correspondent //

Although the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) regularly conducts operations to intercept smuggled goods in the border areas of Sylhet, there has been controversy over the police’s operation for mysterious reasons. Although the Sylhet Metropolitan Police is vocal about this, the Sylhet District Police is playing a silent role.

Investigation shows that after the fall of the autocratic Awami government, smugglers have been freely bringing various types of illegal Indian goods through the Jaintapur, Gowainghat, Companiganj and Kanaighat border areas under the district police by changing hands. The procession of smuggled goods cannot be stopped even after the regular operations of the BGB. Although the goods are shown to be seized, the top smugglers are outside the law.

There are allegations that the Jainta-Gowainghat police station has been silent since August 5, although the BGB authorities have been vocal about stopping irregularities and corruption in the border areas. Currently, the Jaintapur and Gowainghat police stations are at the top.

It is known that after the interim government came to power, both the Sylhet Range DIG and the Superintendent of Police took charge as newcomers. Later, while pursuing the strategic direction, they appointed circle officers and OCs in the police stations in new guises. But for some mysterious reason, the police of Jainta, Gowainghat, Kanaighat and Companiganj police stations under the district police have not been seen conducting any visible operations. They are maintaining their positions by conducting one or two eyewash operations per month. The higher authorities of Sylhet divisional and district police are not bothered by this. These heroes are getting stuck in the name of meetings and gatherings.

It is known from locals that currently, the most smugglers are being sheltered by Abul Basar Mohammad Badruzzaman of Jaintapur Model Police Station and OC Sarkar Tofail of Gowainghat Police Station. Their powerful smugglers have regained their old appearance. Like the previous OCs, they are also earning a lot of money through dishonest means. Apart from weapons and drugs, Indian goods, cosmetics, sugar and cattle and buffaloes are earning about one million taka every night. Even illegal sand quarry operators are not getting rid of them. However, it is very difficult to bring this highly secretive extortion to light. The same predicament is faced by the Kanaighat and Companiganj police stations.

Meanwhile, a source who did not want to be named confirmed that some members of the Sylhet District Detective Branch (DB) also get a share of it. These dishonest officials go to these upazila areas every night in the name of raids and indulge in extortion. Many yellow extortionist journalists are not left out of this. Their daily job is to publish six or nine news items if someone stands in the way of smuggling. Still, they want extortion.

On-site investigation shows that most of the Indian goods in the Jaintapur Model Police Station and Gowainghat Police Station areas use the Sylhet Tamabil Highway road in vehicles. Even if these products do not catch their eyes, they catch the attention of the SMP police. Because after the new SMP Police Commissioner Rezaul Karim took charge, he gave strict instructions to every police station and outpost police and Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) under the SMP to suppress crime. After this instruction, the SMP police members were shaken.

The Shahparan (RA) Mazar Investigation Center Outpost Police has already shown a surprise. Never before has the Shahparan (RA) Police been able to show such a surprise.

When SI Md. Sanaul Islam was given the responsibility of the Shahparan (RA) Mazar Investigation Center Outpost Police, the chess moves of the criminals and smugglers changed. On the contrary, the criminals started running around to find ways to transfer him by humiliating and making him controversial. His uncompromising leadership is worth seeing. The other police stations of the SMP are also not sitting still. Only some of the so-called higher authorities of the district police have seen the crime. Even after the publication of the factual news, these dishonest police members remain in great distress. When we tried to take a statement on the mobile phone in this regard, it was not possible to take a statement as the OCs of Jainta and Gowainghat police stations did not answer the phone. However, earlier during the investigation, when the Jainta-Kanaighat Circle Officer was contacted on his mobile phone, he said, if you have any information, let us know and we will conduct a raid. He instead sought the cooperation of the journalist at this time. When the Gowainghat-Companiganj Circle Officer was contacted on his mobile phone, the phone was not received. Later, when he contacted him on WhatsApp, the phone was not received either.

Recently, allegations have been made about the activities of the intelligence agency, the Sashai Sangaton. Because how far has the preparation of the list of those involved in smuggling at the border taken? Even though Indian goods have been recovered by the BGB, why are the criminals remaining out of reach? Whether the proper rules are being followed in the auction of these products or not, and whether the accounting of the operation is being kept in the eye of those organizations or not, is a matter of concern to everyone. It is also unknown to what extent they are keeping an eye on the extortionist and dishonest officials. However, the locals demand that the smugglers be identified and brought to justice by conducting Operation Devil Hunt.

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