Cattle smuggling hurting economy: BGB

SHILLONG, JULY 15: The Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) has urged its counterpart, the Border Security Force (BSF) to stop menace of cattle smuggling into Bangladesh as it is affecting its “country’s economy”.

“We have requested the BSF to stop cattle smuggling as a lot of other related issues can also be resolved by that,” BGB Addl Director General M Zahid said.

Addressing newsmen after a coordination conference between Inspectors General, BSF and Region Commanders, BGB concluded here, Zahid said cattle smuggling from India to Bangladesh is one of main agenda points being raised.

“We have agreed and we have identified that cattle all by itself it cannot walk as it need some assistance. Both the nationals some or the other whether we agreed or not it is understandable involves,” he said.

Stating that such cattle are coming from deep inside India and being smuggled through the international border, he said they are also requesting the Indian nationals not to be involved in such smuggling’s.

When asked whether he would also urge Bangladeshi nationals not to buy these cattle, Zahid however claimed, “Actually it is harming our economy. If it doesn’t come from India then our dairy farmers can go up and we can take care of ourselves.”

On the demand of beef in Bangladesh, the BGB senior official said, “There is high demand on everything. We are the fourth largest fist producers in the world despite being small country we are largest producer of rice, beef, meat, mutton, chicken, egg and we can export them surely.”

In a statement issued yesterday, the BSF had stated that cattle smuggling on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya seems getting rampant, despite the BSF foiling these attempts effectively.

“But the never-ending demand from Bangladesh keeps fueling the illegal act,” BSF spokesman said while informing that over 70 cattle worth more than Rs 12 lakh was seized from East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills.

These cattle being smuggle to Bangladesh.

The BSF has seized 222 cattle and contraband items worth more than Rs 74 Lakh, while being smuggled out from India to Bangladesh on the International Border along Meghalaya during last week in 44 incidents.