Huge Hilsa fishes being smuggled out to India ahead of Pahela Baishakh

KHULNA, Apr 10: Huge Hilsa fishes are being smuggled out to India ahead of Pahela Baishakh and huge phensidyl syrup, wine and heroin are coming into the country through different points of the bordering upazilas of Satkhira and Jessore districts everyday.

Pahela Baishakh, the 1st day in Bangla calendar is traditionally celebrated with fried Hilsa with rice in both Bangladesh and India's West Bengal and also in parts of Assam and Tripura.

Bordering Upzilas are bursting with fish smugglers and drug peddlers who throng different points in border areas of Kalaroa, Debhata, Satkhira Sadar and Benapole Upazilas at night to smuggle out hundreds of Hilsa. They are also engaged in illegally bringing thousands of phensidyl bottles from India to make quick money, banking on Pahela Baishakh.

More than 50 fish traders and 200 drug peddlers are active in smuggling in Putimari, Debhata, Bhomrah land port and Benapole area to do brisk business because of high demand of Hilsa in India this season and growing demand of phensidyl ahead of 1st Baishakh.