The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The government will conduct joint operation by army, police, BDR and Coast Guard to combat fertiliser smuggling in a bid to ensure smooth supply of fertilizer during current Boro cultivation.

The decision was taken yesterday (Monday) at Advisory Council meeting on Law and Order following intelligence report that huge quantity of fertilizer is being smuggled out to neighbouring countries, especially Myanmar.

A Home Ministry official said large quantity of fertilizer is being smuggled to out Myanmar through several points from Cox's Bazar.

Members of police, BDR, Coast Guard, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Army were asked to conduct joint operations to combat the smuggling, the official said after the meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In Bangladesh price of one kg of fertilizer is about Tk 5 while in Myanmar it is Tk 23 and in India Tk 12.

It was proposed at the meeting to galvanize electric transformer with electricity poles to prevent stealing of transformers. Police and intelligence agencies were asked to shut down shops selling stolen transformers.

Chaired by Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) M A Matin, the meeting was attended, among others, by Law Adviser Hassan Ariff, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, IGP, DGs of RAB and Coast Guard and concerned high officials.

The meeting reviewed overall crime situation in the country and expressed satisfaction over the prevailing law and order situation.

However, the meeting was told that incidents of dacoity on highway have increased. The law enforcers were ordered to take strong measures to stop car lifting, stealing and snatching being committed by 'Oghyan Party'.

The meeting decided to conduct eviction drive to remove illegal structure near Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to build the hospital's outdoor as Tk 8 crore were already allocated for it.

The meeting also decided to recover some 474 plots from land grabbers at Rupnagar in Pallabi. The plots are kept occupied for last 22 years.