Kaladan News

BDR Seized a Cargo Boat of Table Salt Being Smuggled into Bangladesh

Teknaf, May 16: Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) seized a cargo boat carrying table salt that was being smuggling into Bangladesh on 6^th of May 2004, said our correspondent from Teknaf.

The cargo boat was captured at Naff River, while it was on its way to Bangladesh from Akyab, Burma. The boat was traversing at midnight towards Banglades with 9 crewmen and it carried out about 5,000 mounds (160 metric tons) of table salt worth Taka 11,20, 000/-(US$ 1.32 millions), he further added.

On May 8, traders were invited to tender by the Customs and BDR of Teknaf jointly, for the selling of table salt and sold it with only Taka 1, 02, 000/-. The local traders sold it again with the rate of low price to the customers. So, the salt flooded Teknaf, said a trader from Teknaf.

Everyday, between 1000 to 2000 Tons of chemical fertilizer including Urea are smuggled into Burma, while on their return trip, they carry table salt, said another trader who declined to mention his name.

Though the administrators on both sides of the border are planning to keep up legal import and export, the local merchants are found to go for illegal trade said one of the Customs from Teknaf.

Smuggling through Bangladesh-Burma border at Ukhiya and Nhila, Shafuri Dip in Cox’s Bazar District continues unabated. Fuel oil, fertilizer, medicine and daily commodities are being smuggled out of Bangladesh, while wide variety of stationary and cosmetics as well as drugs are coming to the country through the Burma border, said a reporter from Teknaf.

Some products of third countries are also being smuggled through Burma, where they have duty-free access or access with a nominal duty, sources said.

However, the Bangladesh government is trying to stop the smuggling of salt from Burma by arresting the smugglers and confiscating the cargo boat or trawlers, since the local salt producers asked to the government to stop the Burma’s salt, said a BDR to our source.

Since the Bangladesh government’s production of salt has not been able to cover the domestic demand, the sea-smuggling trade of salt from Burma is flourishing, said a customer.

During the un-expectable rain affected the production of salt because of the low salinity in the seawater and the volume of fresh water is increased in the salt production fields, where the seawater has already been stored to produce salt. Last year, salt producer could get 25 to 26 gram salt per liter of seawater, but, this year they can get only 8 to 10 gm per liter, said a researcher.

The arrested 9- crewmen were also released, said a reporter from Teknaf. ##

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