361 smuggled tortoises seized

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 361 tortoises of rare species worth about Tk 18.5 lakh from Baropota border point under Benapole Port Police Station yesterday. Lt Col Abdur Rahim, commanding officer of BGB-23 Battalion, said receiving information that tortoises were being smuggled from India, the border guards raided the area and seized them. However, the smugglers managed to flee the scene, sensing the presence of the BGB men, said the CO. The seized tortoises were later handed over to Khulna divisional forest office.