NBR suspects recent major seizures behind attack on customs officers in Ctg

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) believes yesterday's attack on two Chattogram Customs House officials may be tied to their role in blocking the illegal release of high-value consignments. 

Investigators told The Business Standard today (5 December) that the attack appears to be retaliation by a syndicate angered by recent seizures worth around Tk40 crore.

Revenue Officer Asaduzzaman Khan and Assistant Revenue Officer Badrul Arefin Bhuiyan were attacked yesterday morning in the CDA Residential Area under Double Mooring Police Station. 

Three men on a motorcycle intercepted their rented car, smashed its windows with machetes and shouted for each other to open fire. The officials managed to flee before the attackers could escalate further.

Both officers had been directly involved in several high-profile seizures in recent months. NBR officials say the pattern of threats and the scale of attempted fraud point to a revenge attack.

Asaduzzaman Khan filed a case in this connection with Double Mooring police station last night.

A trail of seizures and threats

Chattogram Customs House has blocked multiple attempts this year to bring in banned or undeclared items under false declarations. Officials say the list is long: from prohibited poppy seeds and artificial sweetener shipments to high-value cosmetics and Tk30 crore worth of illegal cigarettes.

Each time, officers involved in the checks faced intimidation. Asaduzzaman said after a major cosmetics seizure, he received direct threats instructing him to release the consignments. More calls followed from unknown numbers, warning him of consequences if he continued blocking shipments.

NBR's own statement following yesterday's attack cites these recent seizures as possible triggers. Officials highlight the October confiscation of Tk10 crore worth of poppy seeds and concentrated artificial sweetener, and the May interception of illegal cigarettes. They say the crackdown disrupted an entrenched syndicate reliant on false declarations and tax evasion.

Police investigators agree the sequence of events points to a targeted attempt to intimidate Customs officers and deter further enforcement.

Inside the poppy seed operation

The first major seizure under scrutiny involves two containers declared as bird feed imported from Pakistan by Khatunganj-based Adib Trading. The documents described 32 tonnes of feed. But when the containers were opened at a private depot on 22 October, officers discovered a shipment carefully arranged to evade detection: bags of bird feed stacked at the door with 25 tonnes of prohibited poppy seeds hidden behind them.

The containers had arrived at Chattogram port on 9 October. Acting on a tip, officials halted delivery and sent samples to three laboratories, which confirmed that the consignment contained banned poppy seeds rather than the declared goods.

The concentrated sweetener case

Another major seizure came on 28 October, when officers intercepted three containers declared as polyaluminium chloride and imported by SP Traders. The documents listed 63 tonnes of industrial-grade chemicals from China. Chemical testing later confirmed that 39 tonnes were actually sodium cyclamate, a highly potent artificial sweetener and a banned food additive in Bangladesh.

Authorities say the substance is routinely used by unscrupulous manufacturers because it is 30 to 50 times sweeter than regular sugar and far cheaper. It often ends up in bakery items, beverages, confectionery, and even baby food.

Chattogram Customs Deputy Commissioner HM Kabir said the seizure disrupted a chain that had long operated under false declarations. He added that officers have been receiving threats for weeks as they tighten checks and dismantle the syndicate.

Threats escalate before the attack

Speaking to TBS, Asaduzzaman said he had been receiving threats since early October. One caller identifying himself only as "Sajjad" warned him of "dire consequences" and demanded that he stop inspecting certain consignments. Another caller told him to release two cosmetics shipments immediately. He filed a general diary at Bandar police station on 6 October after receiving a death threat.

The timeline of intimidation, combined with yesterday's attack, has pushed the NBR to press for urgent protection for field officers.

Police tracking leads

Double Mooring police say both the recent seizures and the sequence of threats form the core of their investigation. CCTV footage, documents of the intercepted consignments, and phone call records are being examined to identify the attackers.

Investigators say the financial interests behind these consignments are considerable. They believe yesterday's assault may have been a retaliatory strike meant to send a message.

Double Mooring Police Station Officer-in-Charge Babul Azad said law enforcers have already collected evidence and are analysing footage showing the attackers arriving on a motorcycle. He added that investigators expect to have more details once they identify the individuals involved.