The authorities concerned claimed that local smugglers have been smuggling hybrid Heera paddy-seed into India for long through different border points of the district. The points are particularly situated in Porsha, Dhamoirhat and Sapahar upazilas.
Consequently, Bangladesh has been incurring a loss as the country imports the seed variety from China to meet local demand of the peasant.
It was learnt that there is a high demand of Heera variety paddy-seed in India, where its market value is about Tk450 per kg while the figure is Tk250 in the country.
Being allured by high profit, the smuggling rings have been sending the seeds through Uttar Patari, Dakkhin Patari, Jalsuka, Kawavasa, Sundareil, Bamonpara, Rasulpur, Sonadanga, Gopalpur, Hatshauali, Parashauli, Nitpur, Dojarpal, Adatola, Pagla Dewan, Kharampur Belghoria, Bostabor and Agradigun frontier areas under the upazilas.
Confirming the smuggling, Patnitola 14 BGB Battalion Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Rafiqul Hassan said he has already directed the camp commanders to be more alert against the smuggling, resulting a total of 113 packets of paddy-seed seized in last two days.
Sapahar Agriculture Officer AFM Golam Faruk Hossain said: “I am unaware of the matter although there is locally no demand of the paddy and that is why the paddy smuggling could have happened.”
But he assured of taking necessary steps, including monitoring, to check the smuggling as early as possible, the official continued.
When asked, Soitto Brato Shaha, deputy director of Naogaon Agriculture Expansion Directorate, acknowledged the desperate smuggling of paddy-seed, saying they have earlier directed the shop owners to maintain a log-book for the Heera seed buyers.
In reply to another query, the director said since there is available hybrid seeds in India, they were unaware what is the reason behind this high demand for the seed.
local DC Enamul Hoque said he informally heard of the smuggling.
