Oct 9: Road accidents, smuggling and kidnappings continue to increase in different districts of the country.
However, following strict police and BDR actions smuggling in Jessore has fallen. The activities of the so-called. Chokhbandha Party have also declined following special police drives to arrest kidnappers. Road accidents in greater Sylhet region in the meantime, recorded highest since January '93.
Our Correspondent from Jessore say*: The BDR men in Jessore. seized contraband goods worth Tk 51 lakli 23 thousand 814 from different border areas of Jessore and Jhenidah districts conducting special drive, 'treasure hunt' during September, said official sources.
A total of eight alleged smuggles were nabbed and 189 cases were recorded with local thanas during the period, the source said. According to information, goods seized included Indian sarees. machinery ports, garments, heroin, phensidyl syrup bottles, toothpaste. blade, bicycles, carbon-paper. crockeries, medicine, salt, sugar, spices, used band roll of bidi. pressure cookers, clothes, air guns, bearings, copper, hilsa. TV parts, polyster and cosmetics.
When contacted. Commanding Officer of BDR in Jessore Lt Col Neaz-ur-Rahim told The Daily Star that bulk of the goods were seized while being smuggled in and the rest while smuggled out from the border points in the area.
He also informed that all the seized goods were deposited with customs ware house at Benapole and Jessore.
Giving account of revenue income from 'cattle corridor' at Navaran of Sarsha and Chowgacha of Chowgacha thana in the district separately, he said Tk 3 lakh 3 thousand 810 was earned from these corridor during the period under review.
He said that Tk 2 lakh 71 thousand was earned from Navaran corridor while Tk 32 thousand was earned from Chowgacha.
He also informed that volume of smuggling, particularly in this border area has largely declined recently. It can be controlled If cooperation from the public is ensured.
Our Staff Correspondent from Sylhet adds: A total of 25 persons were killed and 164 others were injured in 35 road accidents In the four districts of greater Sylhet region during the month of September.
Of the total. 22 took place in Sylhet. five in Habiganj. two
tn Sunamganj and the rest of the six took place in Moulvibazar.
In Sylhet. 14 persons were killed and 129 others were injured while three were kiHed and 29 others were injured in the district of Habiganj, five were killed and six received injuries in Moulvibazar and two were killed in the district of Sunamganj.
Of the total accidents, microbus and minibuses caused the highest number of accidents while trucks caused the second highest number with seven and tempo and motorcycles caused equal number of three accidents each. Baby tax-ies and buses caused to incidents each. The other mishaps occurred due to head on collisions.
During the month of September the highest number of road mishaps took place on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Five persons were killed and 38 others were injured in eight accidents on the road while seven persons were killed and 12 others received injuries In eight accidents on Sylhet-Sunamganj road, two people were killed and 97 others were injured in three accidents on Sylhet-J aklganj road, two were killed on Sylhet-Tamabil road while six
others were killed and 17 others were injured in six separate accidents on Sylhet-Fenchuganj - Shaistaganj -Shahjibazar road. Moulvibazar-Kulaura road. Moulvibazar-Munshibazar, Barlekha-Chand-gram road. Barlekha-Shahbaj-pur road and at Barlekha thana headquarters.
The highest number of road accidents took place in the month of September this year since January 93 in greater Sylhet region.
Our Correspondent from Savar says: Police continued hunt for "Chokhbandha Party" gangsters and rounded up 10 of them from five thanas of Manlkganj. Dhaka. Gazipur districts last Sunday night.
In one of the raids conducted In Dhamral thana pe- . lice led by SI Haider All and SI
• Abdussalam, Abdul Halim. 35. a gang leader and Ata Miah. 30. from Gamra Bari village in Dhamral thana, allegedly .involved in kidnapping were ar rested. Halim, a selfstyled commander of the party was hiding who was awarded 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment in another case, police said. Thanawise break-up of the arrested persons are: Dhamrai-2, Saturia-1, Mirzapur-2. Nagur-pur-3 and Kaliakoir-2. All the accused were wanted by police in different cases.