A large number of Myanmar cattle are being smuggled into Bangladesh while fuel and edible oil are being smuggled out to the war-torn Myanmar through maritime route from Coxs Bazar.
At least three people were killed in gunfights between two gangs of cattle smugglers in Ramu upazila of Coxs Bazar in the last 15 days.
Abu Taher Dewan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ramu Police Station, said several gangs are active in illegal cattle smuggling from Myanmar. One person was killed in a gunfight between robbers and a gang of cattle smugglers at Gorjania union of Coxs Bazars Ramu. the OC added. The incident took place in the Barabil Naimmarghona area of Gorjania Union of Upazila on Thursday morning.
The deceased Abul Kashem, 47, of the Barabil area, was a labourer who allegedly worked for the cattle smugglers. The injured is Monir Ahmad, 40, of the Jumchari area of Gorjania Union also used to work as a labourer to smuggle cattle.
According to the OC, around 4:30am, members of a gang with a herd of cows were crossing the area between Naimmarghona in Gorznia union and Malapara teak plantation in Joyariarnala union.
They came under attack by local robbers triggering a gunfight between both parties resulting in the death, the OC added.
A man and his son were killed during a gunfight between two gangs of cattle smugglers in Ramu upazila of Coxs Bazar on April 25.
The deceased are Zafar Alam, 52, and his son Md Selim, 33, of Garjania union of the upazila.
Locals said a gunfight broke out when members of the gang led by Shaheen was waiting in Maulvighona to receive smuggled cattle from the Myanmar side. At one stage of the gunfight, Zafar and Selim came in the line of fire and were injured critically.
The investigation revealed that per liter of octane can be delivered to the smugglers boat from Marine Drive, yielding a cash profit of Tk 200.
If the octane reaches the coast of Myanmar from the sea adjacent to Coxs Bazar Marine Drive, the profit tops Tk 500 per liter.
The fuel and edible oil are being smuggled to Myanmar by the sea from Coxs Bazar for quite some time. Many people in the coastal area are involved in this crime for illegal profit.
Some 2,900 liters of octane in 69 plastic containers were recovered from a pickup van and six people were arrested on suspicion of smuggling, according to RAB.
This octane was bought from an oil pump in Ukhiya at Tk 135 per liter to be smuggled into Myanmar, according to the RAB officials.
"They used to buy octane at wholesale price from various petrol pumps. The six arrested are in RAB custody. A case under the Special Powers Act is pending against them with Ramu Police Station," he said.
Teknaf Police Station Officer-in Charge (OC) Osman Gani said the fuel and edible oil have been smuggled into Myanmar for quite some time. The OC said the suspected smugglers confessed during interrogation that they had been smuggling fuel oil to Myanmar for a long time.
Recent investigations in the border area have revealed that the internal communication system has broken down due to the ongoing civil war between Myanmar government forces and the rebels inside Myanmar.
The Coast Guard members in separate drives arrested six individuals with a substantial amount of food items and fuel oil near the Naf River at Teknaf in Coxs Bazar stockpiled allegedly for smuggling to Myanmar on March 3.
A substantial amount of food items and fuel oil were stockpiled for smuggling into Myanmar through the Shahpori Island and Baritali areas of Teknaf, evading Customs, he said. He also added that a case was filed with the Teknaf Police Station regarding the incident.
