An Indian national has been detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh after a significant amount of foreign currency was recovered from his possession during a targeted search operation.
The arrested individual has been identified as 34-year-old Palash Chandra Majhi, a resident of Kedarapur village under Khanakul Police Station in Hooghly district of West Bengal, India.
According to BGB officials, the operation was conducted on Monday (27 April) at around midday following a confidential tip-off provided by the National Security Intelligence (NSI). The intelligence report suggested the possible involvement of an organised syndicate engaged in money smuggling through the land port area, prompting heightened surveillance and coordinated checks by border security personnel.
Preliminary information indicates that Palash Chandra Majhi entered Bangladesh on 27 March using a tourist visa. He was reportedly attempting to return to India via the Banglabandha border point when he came under scrutiny. Although he initially managed to bypass routine customs inspection, he was later intercepted at the Zero Point area during a specialised search conducted at the Integrated Check Post by BGB members.
During the search, authorities discovered a substantial amount of foreign currency concealed inside a diary in his possession. The recovered currencies included US dollars, Indian rupees, Nepalese rupees, and Bangladeshi taka.
Officials suspect that the detained individual may be linked to informal money transfer operations commonly known as “hundi,” which are often used to move funds across borders illegally, bypassing formal banking channels and customs regulations. However, authorities have emphasised that the matter remains under active investigation and no final conclusion has yet been reached regarding his involvement.
Following his detention, Palash Chandra Majhi was handed over to Tetulia Model Police Station for further legal procedures. Customs authorities are expected to file formal charges, after which investigative agencies will continue their probe to determine the origin and intended destination of the seized funds.
Tetulia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Laisur Rahman stated that they had been verbally informed of the incident and would proceed with appropriate legal action once the detainee is formally transferred and a complaint is lodged by the customs department.
Border authorities noted that such incidents are not uncommon along the frontier areas, where efforts to combat illegal financial transactions and cross-border smuggling remain ongoing. Regular joint operations involving security and intelligence agencies have been intensified to prevent misuse of land ports for unlawful financial activities.
Details of Seized Currency
| Serial | Currency Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Dollar | 24,600 |
| 2 | Indian Rupee | 5 |
| 3 | Nepalese Rupee | 130 |
| 4 | Bangladeshi Taka | 3,570 |
Authorities have indicated that border surveillance and anti-smuggling operations will be further strengthened in response to the incident, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to cross-border financial crimes.