Foreign currency worth approximately 3 crore taka seized in BGB operation

BanglaPress Desk: The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized foreign currency and an object resembling a statue made of touchstone—collectively valued at approximately 30 million (3 crore) BDT—in Panchbibi, Joypurhat, which were being transported for the purpose of smuggling. The estimated value of the seized foreign currency alone is 29.7 million (2.97 crore) BDT.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Latiful Bari, Commander of the Joypurhat 20 BGB Battalion, confirmed the incident in a press release issued on Thursday night (November 5).

According to the press release, acting on information that members of an international money-laundering syndicate were attempting to smuggle foreign currency and a touchstone-like statue into India via the Hili border, BGB personnel conducted a search operation on the night of Wednesday (November 4) near the Panchbibi checkpost on the Panchbibi-Hili road. During the operation, the items were discovered abandoned.

The release further stated that the seized collection consists of 570 coins, representing 60 different types from various countries, with an estimated market value of 29,637,000 BDT. Additionally, the touchstone-like object, weighing 700 grams, is valued at 70,000 BDT. The total value of the seized items amounts to 29,707,000 BDT.

The BGB Commander stated that the seized items are currently being held in secure custody at the battalion headquarters. Plans are underway to coordinate with the Department of Archaeology—specifically the authorities associated with the Paharpur Buddhist Vihara—regarding the statue-like object (as a potential archaeological artifact), while the foreign currency is being processed for handover to the appropriate authorities.