260 sacks or 334? Police and importer trade claims over seized cumin in Brahmanbaria
A dispute has erupted between police and an importer over a consignment of Indian cumin seized from a truck in Brahmanbaria. The district Detective Branch (DB) of police says 260 sacks of cumin were found in the truck, while the importer claims there were 334 sacks — questioning the whereabouts of the other 74 sacks, since the DB seizure list records only 260.
According to the DB, the truck was intercepted during a raid at around 5pm on Friday in the Gajaria area under Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station. A search found 260 sacks containing 7,800 kilograms of Indian cumin, police said.
In a press release, the DB said the cumin had been brought in illegally, evading customs duty. Two people were arrested in connection with the seizure and a case was filed against them with Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station.
The arrestees are Md Shahnur Alam, son of Mohammad Ali of Hemu Haudpara village in Jaintapur, Sylhet, and Md Suruj Mia, son of Md Fulsur of Atbhag (Dakshin Jamira) village in Puthia, Rajshahi.
Importer Mahbub Ullah Roki, however, claims he imported the cumin legally last month through India's Dawki land port. As prices and demand were low in the Dhaka market, the goods were kept in a warehouse in Sylhet to avoid losses. Later, an assistant revenue officer (ARO) of the concerned circle visited the warehouse and advised moving the goods to Dhaka, after which they were loaded onto the truck. According to Roki, DB police stopped the truck in Brahmanbaria at around 1pm on Friday.
Roki said that after the truck was stopped, they tried to show police the import documents and requested verification of the goods. DB officials said they would give a decision the next morning but instead began the case and seizure process. He claims he imported about 10,020 kilograms of cumin, equal to 334 sacks, but the DB prepared a seizure list showing 260 sacks.
Nur Alam Siddiqui, assistant review officer (ARO) at Tamabil land port, said the paperwork for 334 sacks is in order, adding that he does not understand why the DB seized the cumin.
Md Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of the Brahmanbaria district DB, said they found 260 sacks, not 334, and seized the goods because no import documents could be produced.
Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Jalal Uddin Fahim said police initially had information that the importer's side had no documents, though a party later said documents exist; the complete papers have not yet been received. If the allegation of seizing more goods than recorded proves true, the matter will be investigated and necessary action taken, he said.
