Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) personnel arrested five people along with 37,500 kilograms of cement, packed in 750 bags, that had been prepared for transport from the Patenga coast in Chattogram, Bangladesh, to Rakhine State, according to reports.
A cargo vessel carrying the cement was also seized during the operation. The arrested individuals and the confiscated items are currently being dealt with in accordance with existing laws, according to the authorities.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Sabbir Alam Sujan, media spokesperson for the Coast Guard, the Patenga Coast Guard station conducted a special operation based on information received on the afternoon of September 14.
The operation was carried out at an anchorage in the sea area under Patenga Police Station, where authorities searched a suspicious cargo vessel.
During the inspection, officials found bags of cement loaded on the vessel and arrested five people, the Coast Guard said.
The seized cement consisted of 750 bags, each weighing approximately 50 kilograms, with a total weight of 37,500 kilograms, or 37.5 tonnes. The estimated value of the cement was around Tk 375,000, according to the authorities.
According to the Coast Guard statement, the cement was intended to be transported to Rakhine State. However, the statement did not provide details about the final destination of the cement, the intended recipient, or whether any specific permits had been obtained for the transportation.
As there are maritime connections between Chattogram and Rakhine State, Bangladeshi authorities continue to monitor and inspect the movement of goods by sea, according to the authorities.
In the latest incident, the five individuals were arrested after the vessel carrying the cement was identified and searched. Further investigation is underway into the transportation of the goods and other circumstances surrounding the case.
The seized cement and vessel remain in the custody of the relevant authorities, while legal proceedings against the five arrested individuals are continuing in accordance with Bangladeshi law.
Ref: BGB
