Illicit trade across the India-Bangladesh border is hardly news. But lawmakers in Delhi and Dhaka are oblivious to its magnitude. They should seriously consider legalising border bazaars which will benefit both countries
It is a murky economy that thrives in West Bengal, bordering the large stretch of Bangladesh border. The turnover of illicit trade — arms, fake currency, drugs, and goods of daily usage — is reportedly pegged at a few thousand crore every day, and about four lakh crore rupees a year.
The porous border in reality extends much beyond the marked boundaries or the fences (wherever they have been built). Neither the local administration nor the Border Security Force has the capacity to check the contraband flow. Half of Bangladesh’s border is along West Bengal.
The West Bengal administration in Murshidabad, Malda and Birbhum are aware of the movements of goods. If you ask Government officials, they will give the dossier of the trucks, vans and other vehicles or men involved in the illicit trade. According to them, every fifth vehicle moving in the area is a courier of contraband.
Jharkhand is the destination for the weapons where Maoists reportedly make purchases for their pan-India operations. The sophisticated arms find their way into Bangladesh from various sources, including Myanmar, Pakistan and China.
The administration says that since 2000 a large influx of minorities from Bangladesh has changed the demography of the region. Organised gangs operate day and night with tact, might and brazen force to keep the administration at bay. As you move along the region, your vehicle is marked. None disturbs it but it is watched closely, lest you go off the mark and have a brush with their activities.
The lush rain-soaked paddy fields conceal the realities. It looks pleasant to a visitor. You enjoy the scenery till your local friend tells you that the hay-stacked truck that passed by is also carrying arms and drugs.
As you trudge some more miles, another van is said to be carrying fake currency. Police seizures are there, at times. In June and July, fake Indian currency worth Rs 19 lakh has been seized in Murshidabad. There had been smaller seizures by the State crime branch from one Jiyarulislam Shaikh of Murshidabad of fake Indian currency worth Rs 41,000.
This is considered to be the mere tip of the iceberg. On February 11, then Union Minister for Finance P Chidambaram said fake currencies worth Rs 107.33 crore were seized in three-and-half years up until June 2013. Fake currencies with face value of Rs 23.66 crore were seized in 2010; Rs 31.46 crore in 2011; Rs 34.57 crore in 2012; and Rs 17.64 crore until June 2013. In terms of available estimates, the volume of fake currency recovered and seized in India is not more than 0.003 per cent.
Though there are many points through which fake currency is smuggled in, the administration in West Bengal does not mind admitting that the largest flow is through is State — be it from Bangladesh or through the Nepal border. The India-Bangladesh border runs through rivers, ponds, agricultural fields, villages and even houses where the entrance is in India and the backdoor in Bangladesh. It is perhaps the most complex land border anywhere in the world.
That is why for nearly three decades, this long stretch along the India-Bangladesh border has remained the hub for illegal immigration, human trafficking and smuggling of narcotics, guns, ammunition and essential supplies.
The ease with which smugglers can bring in arms and ammunition and terrorists can infiltrate the country is perhaps, not adequately understood in the corridors of power in New Delhi. The BSF has identified 46 places prone to infiltration. Fencing of the border has helped partially. It has, however, not stopped the flow of all that is illicit including millions of Bangladeshis. The local saying is that the establishment of a new place of worship means that more money is flowing in and murky activities are on the rise.
The latest Census figures show that the demography of the West Bengal’s six border districts have dramatically changed because of illegal immigration. It is changing the economy of the region also. Some allege that Trinamool Congress leaders are also helping the illicit activities.
The organised gangs are also indulging in tolabaazi — extortion — at isolated points on the road-side. They are seen doing it during day and night. Each passing vehicle has to pay anything between Rs 10 and Rs 100, sometimes even more. A 100km stretch will have two to three such extortion points. It is billion rupee a year business. The administration is not oblivious to it. It is said that a share of the tolabaazi goes to various pointsmen in the police, local administration and also in some political parties.
The problem, the officials say, is that neither New Delhi nor Dhaka understand the magnitude of the human problem created by such a shared legacy, porous borders and continuous interaction. The simple solution is to legalise the border bazaars. It will reduce law and order problems, and help the economy of both countries. The legalisation will also end the dominance of the mafia.