Pabna: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were accused of looting a Maitree Express train from India on the pretext of raiding near Ishwardi junction in Pabna on Tuesday afternoon.

However, Kushtia’s Mirpur 47 BGB nayeb subedar Mohammad Hazrat Ali denied the allegation. He said they seized 11 bags and recovered illegally imported Indian sarees and cosmetics. Owners of the bags could not be found yet.

Alal, who was travelling from Kolkata to Bangladesh by the Maitree Express train, said he was carrying some dresses and cosmetics from Kolkata for his family, which was examined by the custom officials earlier. He said 47 BGB members seized the bags of the passengers as the train stopped at Ishwardi station. The law enforcers hold gun to the passengers as they asked them why they (BGB men) are taking away their bags.

‘They snatched two bags from me,’ added Alal.

While another passenger Manisha said, I went to India along with my family members for medical treatment. I have brought some medicines, some dresses and cosmetics for my relative here. BGB members took away our bags with our prescriptions.’

The witnesses said people at the station hurled stones to the BGB members as they seized 11 bags from some passengers after the raid. The BGB members also spread fear at the station by blowing whistle and pointing guns. Around 15 minutes after the incident, the train left the station for Dhaka. 

The Ishwardi GRP police said the BGB member did not seek GRP police’s assistance during the raid at the train.

‘They should have checked the bag before snatching those from the passengers. They took bags and goods of the legal owners. GRP police have nothing to do in this connection,’ said the GRP police officer-in-charge.

Ishwardi station master Mohammad Rafiz Uddin said 47 BGB nayek subedar Mohammad Hazrat Ali showed him a letter few minutes earlier than the Maitree Express train from Kolkata reached Ishwardi junction. The letter says, ‘There are a lot of illegal goods in the Maitree Express train approaching from India. The train will be raided.’

‘The BGB members threatened me by pointing gun at my chest as I asked them that it is not possible to receive the letter without the consent of higher rail officials,’  said Rafiz Uddin.

Maitree Express guard Kanak Biswas and driver Jahangir said the BGB members pointed gun at them as the train stopped at Ishward station at about 2:35pm according to its schedule.

The law-enforcers warned them to shut their mouths and seized some bags from the compartments, claimed Kanak and Jahangir.

BGB nayek subedar Hazrat Ali refused the charge of pointing gun at the rail employees.

Pakshi rail divisional transportation official Shawkat Jamil Mohsi said authorities’ permission is needed to conduct raid in a train. The BGB members did not receive any approval from the authorities.

He said the rail authorities will make a complaint to 47 battalion BGB commanding officer for returning the snatched bags to the owners and to take action so that in future the BGB members do not harass the passengers of Maitree train on the pretext of search.