Myanmar smuggling: Bangladesh Navy detains 11 people with cement-laden boat

ছবিঃ সিএনআই

Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: The Bangladesh Navy has detained 11 people along with a cement-laden boat while they were attempting to smuggle goods to Myanmar. On Tuesday (February 17), an engine-powered boat carrying 740 bags of cement and the smugglers was intercepted in the Bay of Bengal near Saint Martin’s Island.

On Wednesday, February 18, Assistant Director of ISPR Rezaul Karim Shammi confirmed the information.

According to the report:

Acting on confidential information about an illegal plan to smuggle cement to Myanmar via sea while evading customs, the Bangladesh Navy intensified patrols around Saint Martin’s Island and its surrounding areas. During a routine patrol, the naval ship Protasha spotted a suspicious boat 31 miles from Saint Martin’s lighthouse. The Navy signaled the boat to stop for inspection, but the smugglers attempted to flee.

The Bangladesh Navy pursued and seized the boat, identified as FB Runa Akter. Upon inspection, 740 bags of Bangladeshi Diamond cement were recovered. Eleven members of the smuggling group were also arrested.

According to the detainees, on February 16 at around 4:00 AM, the boat departed from Chattogram’s Fishery Ghat and reached Jorabaya in the Sandwip Channel. There, it was loaded with 740 bags of cement, with the intention of smuggling it to Sita in Myanmar for higher profit.

The seized goods and the arrested individuals were handed over to the Bangladesh Navy Forward Base in Saint Martin’s for legal action.