Narinjara News, June 16, 2025

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested six smugglers along with 291 bags of urea fertilizer valued at approximately 800,000 taka and 9,072 'Royal Tiger' energy drinks while attempting to smuggle these goods into Myanmar's Rakhine State from the coastal area of ​​Cox's Bazar.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Harun-or-Rashid provided this information on Saturday morning, June 14.

He reported that, acting on a tip-off, a Coast Guard team launched a special operation in the sea area near Nazirartek in Cox's Bazar at around 1 PM on Friday.

During the operation, a suspicious engine-powered wooden boat was signaled to stop but attempted to flee at high speed towards deeper waters.

After an hour-long chase, the boat was eventually apprehended. The seized fertilizer and energy drinks were handed over to Cox's Bazar Customs, while the arrested smugglers and their boat were taken to Cox's Bazar Model Police Station.

The Coast Guard official emphasized, "The Bangladesh Coast Guard is patrolling 24 hours a day to uphold law and order in the coastal areas, including efforts to combat smuggling and crime. We will continue these operations in the future."

Rakhine (Arakan) is currently facing a fertilizer shortage this growing season due to a strict ban imposed by the military council on importing fertilizer from mainland Burma. As a result, fertilizer is reportedly being smuggled in via waterways from Bangladesh.

Farmers in Rakhine are worried that inadequate fertilizer usage may result in reduced rice yields.

(Source and Photo: The Ukhiya News)