Smugglers block road as BDR seizes smuggled sugar in Hili

Police said a special patrol team of BDR challenged a bus loaded with 1,200 kgs of smuggled Indian sugar worth Tk 40,000 near Dugdugir Bazar on the Hilli-Bogra road under Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur at 7:30 am.

BDR personnel seized the sugar and was on their way Hilli customs to deposit the sugar.

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A large number of smugglers aided by bus drivers and helpers put up a barricade on the road by placing buses, trucks and other vehicles to prevent BDR from proceeding further.

Hundreds of trucks loaded with imported goods from India and other vehicles were stranded for seven hours.

The miscreants demanded suspension of the anti-smuggling drive in the area and return of the seized sugar.

The BDR personnel restrained themselves despite provocation by the miscreants.

Later, due to the BDR's rigid stance, a meeting was held at Hakimpur and the bus drivers signed a paper that they would not carry smuggled goods in buses and would not cooperate with the smugglers.

The paper was signed in presence of the Hakimpur UNO, BDR officials and officer-in-charge of Hakimpur thana in the afternoon. The barricade was withdrawn. BDR deposited the seized goods with Hilli customs.