Bangladesh Jewellers’ Association (BAJUS) on Saturday said that around Tk73000 crore is being laundered from Bangladesh every year through gold smuggling.
They have sought the government’s tough action and the cooperation of intelligence agencies and law enforcers to stop gold smuggling through Bangladesh.
BAJUS leaders said this at a press conference held at the association’s office in Bashundhara city complex in Dhaka on Saturday.
Chairman of BAJUS standing committee on Anti-Smuggling and Legal Enforcement Enmaul Haque Khan read out a written speech at the press conference.
Among others, Vice-chairman Bidhan Malakar, members Ikbal Uddin, Swapon Chandra Karmakar, Bikash Ghosh, and Babul Rahman were present at the function.
They claimed that Bangladesh is used as a transit of gold smuggling to neighbouring countries by influential syndicates which should be stopped.
Gold worth around Tk200 crore is smuggled daily on average using Bangladesh airways, roads, and waterways, they said.
Meanwhile, BAJUS leaders said that they have prepared the report on gold smuggling and money laundering based on law enforcers’ information and newspaper reports regarding gold smuggling.
Replying to a query they said 15000 to 20000 bhoris of gold are being imported into Bangladesh through baggage of travellers which are legal.