A huge syndicate of smugglers has formed around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) by taking advantage of the baggage rules at the airport. The baggage rules or regulations stipulate what a passenger from abroad can bring into the country. Officials say that the huge amount of gold brought under this facility is being handed over to smugglers by a section of passengers. Later, this gold is being smuggled out of the country through various means.
The customs authorities have started working to identify such passengers. Hundreds of people from different parts of the country have already been identified who regularly go to Dubai or Saudi Arabia to bring gold into the country and hand it over to the smugglers. The agency will take action against them, officials say.
National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan spoke to this correspondent and said: “We are thinking about this issue. Steps are being taken to automate customs work at the airport. Some of the tasks have already been completed. When everything is done, we will give a passenger three chances. Then action will be taken against him. At some point, we will see that he will no longer be able to go out of the country.”
This correspondent has received a list of 20 such individuals who regularly travel to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. They take advantage of baggage rules to bring gold into the country and hand it over to smugglers. Of these 20 individuals, five are from different areas of Munshiganj. This correspondent also conducted an on-site investigation.
Siraj of Shilimpur, Munshiganj, was traced on the basis of information provided in his passport. When this correspondent entered the village and looked for Siraj, some people became nervous taking this correspondent for a police official. However, a few of them agreed to speak to this correspondent.
One Liton said that Siraj has long been known in the village as being involved in the gold business. There are even allegations against him of stealing gold from many people while working as a carrier. Those whose gold he has stolen come to the village occasionally. That is why when someone comes to the village to look for him, people think that Siraj might have stolen gold again.
Liton said that Siraj rarely stays in the village. His in-laws' house is towards Louhajang. He has been bringing gold from outside for a long time. But no one in the village knows where and to whom he gives it.
Shaharia, a resident of the village, said that Siraj is a gold smuggler and he brings gold from abroad and gives it to other smugglers.
Siraj was not found at his home. His wife Nilufar Akhter said that he is not at home. She does not know where he is. She does not even know when he will come home.
However, the family admitted to his gold dealings.
The next in the list was Almas Bepari who lives in Dakshin Mahakali area of Sadar Upazila. The villagers also know him as a gold trader.
Abdul Malek, a resident of the village, said: “We know him as a gold trader. He has been doing this business for a long time. Currently he is in Dubai.”
Based on the information given by Malek, this correspondent went directly to Almas Bepari's house. His wife Aklima Begum said her husband does not do anything wrong. Also, he has not been doing his gold trading for a few months as he is out of the country."
When Almas Bepari was contacted over the phone he said he is currently in Dubai. Almas Bepari admitted to bringing gold to the country. However, he said that he has not been doing it for a few days now. When asked about his gold customers and the schedules, Almas Bepari seemed uncomfortable and he swiftly avoided the question.
Mokhlesur Rahman's house is in Bhattacharya Bagh area, very close to Muktarpur in Munshiganj Sadar. He had just returned home from abroad two days ago.
He got a little angry when he found out the identity of this correspondent.
“We bring gold by paying taxes to the government. After that, no one sees where I sell it or whether I sell it at all. If these are smuggled out of the country, let the law enforcement agencies seize them.”
Information about similar activities was found against Ruhul Amin of Abdullahpur under Tongibari Police Station and KM Niaz Hafiz of Louhajang.
Meanwhile, Dalim Mia from Sarail in Brahmanbaria, Abdul Haque Milon from Nabinagar, Al Mamun from Pakundia in Kishoreganj, Joki Ghosh from Kortia in Tangail and Shamsul Haque from Jhalokati Sadar were also investigated in various ways.
The investigations revealed that they did not have the financial means to travel to Dubai three to four times a month. It was even impossible for them to raise money for a passport. However, they have a record of traveling abroad two to three times every month.
According to customs, about 4,000kg of gold come into the country every year through legal means, where taxes are paid accordingly. Around 20,000 kg of gold has come to the country in the last 5 years. However, the amount of gold brought through illegal means is far greater.
Joint Commissioner of HSIA Customs Al-Amin said: "Earlier, passengers were allowed to bring two gold bars under tax. We have reduced it to one now. If an expatriate or a passenger pays tax on one gold bar then we have no problem with it.”
In response to a question, he said: "What the passengers do with the bars later or what they use it for is not our concern. If they commit any crimes or smuggle the bars out of the country or want to do so, that is a matter for other law enforcement agencies."
However, he said, this provision of bringing in gold will not be available for long either.
Bangladesh Jewellery Association spokesperson Masudur Rahman said: "It would have been better for us if the amount of gold entering the country had remained in the country. We could have sold the gold at a lower price. But it is being smuggled out of the country.”
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Headquarters Deputy Director General Colonel Mohammad Shariful Islam said: "BGB is taking a strict stance against any smuggling, including gold. We are conducting operations with the help of our own intelligence agencies as well as other intelligence agencies to prevent smuggling."