Smuggling rawhide to India

A media report published on Wednesday highlighted the loss of export earnings due to the seasonal spurt in smuggling of raw hide in the post-Eid-ul-Azha period. As reported, putting a bar on export can be just a small step. However for this step to be more effective, strict vigilance along the official as well as many unofficial travel routes that has been established for regular border smuggling both ways need close monitoring. Fencing along the border, may curtail the outflow to an extent but smugglers may have optional routes established too, for regular smuggling.

Being once a year event we should have a set strategy for tackling it.  For this operation, the army may be mobilised during this period so that the checking and prevention is extensive across the somewhat porous border. The army in peace time has a relaxed duty programme and this temporary yearly mobilisation and activities would be good for them too.

This short duration presence of the army along the border can help in saving a part if not all of this loss of foreign exchange earning. In my opinion, posting more border guards along with the army could be a step in the right direction.

S A Mansoor

Dhaka