Tk 60.58 Crore Worth of Drugs and Illegal Goods Seized in 11 Months; 15 Points Along Sherpur-India Border Emerge as Drug Havens
Border areas in Bangladesh’s Sherpur district, adjacent to India, have transformed into active hubs for narcotics and contraband smuggling. Illegal goods, including drugs, Indian cosmetics, and cattle, are continuously entering the country through vulnerable points in Shribardi, Jhenaigati, and Nalitabari upazilas. Reports indicate that a powerful syndicate operating under influential patronage controls these operations, while financially vulnerable residents are frequently exploited to transport illicit consignments across regional transit routes.
Law enforcement agencies have identified at least 15 highly vulnerable points along the border, including Nokshi, Rangtia, Tawakucha, Balijuri, Nakugaon, and Panihata. Smuggled narcotics are temporarily stockpiled in nearby hilly terrains before being distributed across the country using various modes of transport, ranging from trucks and pickup vans to autorickshaws and motorcycles. According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources, operations in the Mymensingh sector from January to November 2025 yielded seizures of smuggled goods and drugs worth Tk 60.58 crore, along with the detention of 114 smugglers.
Local activists highlight the severe social fallout of this rampant trafficking, warning that drugs are now easily accessible to youths and students. Social activist Saiful Islam Manik emphasized the urgent need to curb this spread to safeguard the future generation. Illustrating the danger faced by anti-drug protesters, Bakakura resident Rubel Islam Roman alleged that he was physically attacked and had his motorcycle stolen for speaking out against traffickers, adding that his legal case has stalled despite available evidence.
Community members stress that creating local employment opportunities alongside raising mass awareness is vital to stop unemployed individuals from being lured into drug transportation. Addressing the political aspect, Mahmudul Haque Rubel, Member of Parliament for Sherpur-3 and member of the BNP National Executive Committee, told reporters that drug traffickers actively exploit poverty and lack of jobs in border areas, demanding that the underlying syndicates be brought to swift justice.
In response to the growing concern, law enforcement and border security authorities maintain that countermeasures are actively underway. Sherpur Additional Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan stated that district police maintain a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and work in coordination with the BGB. Reaffirming their commitment, Lt. Col. Nurul Azim Bayezid, Commander of the 39th BGB, confirmed that border guards remain vigilant to prevent illegal infiltration, drug trafficking, and smuggling through continuous surveillance.
