Customs, BGB at odds over seizure of Indian woman's 982 grams silver jewellery at Bhomra

Bhomra customs officials have accused Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) of illegally seizing silver jewellery of an Indian citizen at Bhomra immigration checkpoint in Satkhira.

According to customs officials, Indrani Bala, a resident of Kolkata, India, came to visit Bangladesh and she was returning to her home in India through Bhomra today (17 March). BGB members stopped her at immigration as she had 982 grams of silver jewellery with her.

The woman paid customs duty of Tk5,380 for the silver she was carrying. However, BGB members returned 200 grams of silver to the woman and seized the remaining 780 grams of silver, they said.

Meanwhile, in a press release signed by the Satkhira 33-Battalion Captain Lt Colonel Md Ashraful Haque, the BGB said, acting on a tip-off, an operation was conducted near the main pillar no-3 of Bhomra BOP in Satkhira this morning and a plastic bag left by smugglers was found.

After searching the bag, 780 grams of silver jewelry was recovered, estimated to be worth Tk1.41 lakh. The process of depositing the recovered silver in the Satkhira Treasury Office is under process, it added.

Abul Kalam Azad, deputy commissioner of Bhomra Customs, said, "BGB members came here. They have been well explained that we are not finding anything that can be seized. There is also a picture of the woman wearing the ornament in India. She is not buying it from Bangladesh and taking it with her to India, nor does it seem like she is a smuggler.

"Therefore, it would be reasonable to return the items to the passenger, especially since she has already paid over Tk5,000 in duty. We have prohibited the BGB from seizing the items, so if they still do, what more can we do?"

Regarding the allegation, Bhomra BOP Naik Subedar Sultan Mahmud said, "I do not want to talk about this without the permission of the battalion."

Meanwhile, Satkhira 33-Battalion Captain Lt Colonel Md Ashraful Haque did not respond to the request for a comment.

Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Mostaq Ahmed said, "I will verify the matter by talking to Customs and BGB. As I am not yet aware of the details, I do not want to comment at this moment."