BGB tightens border security ahead of festivals

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), under its South-West Region in Jashore, has intensified operations to prevent illegal stockpiling and smuggling of fuel and edible oil, while strengthening security measures ahead of the Bengali New Year (Pahela Boishakh) and Eid-ul-Azha.

The region, which covers nearly 600 km of border across Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Jessore, Satkhira and Khulna districts, including the Sundarbans waterways, is being secured through two sectors, seven battalions and 116 Border Outposts (BOPs), conducting 464 daily patrols.

To curb smuggling, special surveillance is ongoing at Benapole, Bhomra, and Darshana land ports. 

Lt. Colonel Md. Shahriar Rajib,Commanding Officer,Nil Dumur Battalion (17 BGB) confirmed it today.

Monitoring has been strengthened at 22 fuel stations, while 2,325 patrols and 899 special checkpoints have been conducted. 

Additionally, 868 awareness meetings were held to engage local communities.

Joint efforts with local administration, army, RAB, police, and customs led to 31 task force operations, resulting in the seizure of illegal oil and sentencing of one individual to two months' imprisonment and a fine of Tk 5,000. 

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, BGB has increased vigilance to prevent cattle smuggling and illegal hide smuggling. 

Extra patrols, checkpoints, and strict monitoring are in place, alongside public awareness campaigns.

According to officials, in the first three months of 2026, BGB detained 88 individuals and seized smuggled goods worth approximately Tk 58.93 crore, including 1.28915 kg gold, 155.76 grams of diamonds, 10.5 kg silver, 42 firearms, and 152 rounds of ammunition. 

In 2025, 420 suspects were arrested and goods worth Tk 377.46 crore were seized.

In anti-narcotics drives, BGB recovered drugs worth Tk 22.13 crore in early 2026, including 2,320 bottles of liquor, 100 grams of crystal meth, 122 kg of cannabis, 26,271 yaba tablets, and over 4,100 bottles of Phensedyl. 

In 2025, seizures included 30,800 bottles of liquor, 37 kg heroin, 161,000 yaba tablets, 49,000 bottles of Phensedyl, and over 2,000 kg of cannabis worth Tk 19.52 crore , it added.