The BSF on Thursday claimed a significant decline in cattle smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border due to special efforts by forces of both the countries.
BSF Director-General DK Pathak said he was making a “bold claim” to state that cattle smuggling at this frontier has declined significantly, from 20 lakh cattle heads last year to only about four lakh till June this year.
Pathak along with his Bangladeshi counterpart Maj-Gen Aziz Ahmed was interacting with mediapersons after the conclusion of the 41st Border Coordination Conference between the chiefs of the two forces.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chief said, “It is a good opportunity for us because Bangladesh once upon a time used to import a lot of rice and other things but now we have become self-sufficient and we even export it now. I think our farmers should take this opportunity to have their own cattle farming so that we don’t need to depend on others and we are encouraging our people.”
BSF chief Pathak said both the forces have devised mechanisms to check cattle smuggling during night and have firmed up coordinated action to effectively tackle the issue.
He said both the forces have identified “vulnerable” areas for cattle smuggling along the border and have resolved to conduct joint patrols.