Rajshahi, May 21 (V7N) – Twenty-four cows have been seized by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Rajshahi and subsequently handed over to the customs office, sparking protests from cow owners and market lessees. On Wednesday afternoon, these individuals surrounded the Rajshahi BGB office, expressing their discontent and briefly blocking the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway. A delegation of cow owners later held discussions with BGB officials.

The cow owners assert that they were transporting the cattle, which they had purchased from various villages and markets ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, in vehicles equipped with clearance certificates. They claim that BGB members nevertheless seized the cows from the Rajabari BGB checkpost.

Cattle traders and market lessees reported that the BGB conducted a drive in the Bagdhani, Bagsara, and Duari areas of Paba upazila in Rajshahi on Wednesday morning, confiscating four vehicles carrying cattle. A total of 24 cows were brought to the BGB headquarters. Upon learning of the seizure, traders gathered at the BGB headquarters around noon, joined by market lessees and other cattle traders. They chanted various slogans before BGB members requested them to clear the highway, which they eventually did.

Cattle trader Rabiul Islam stated that his group was transporting eight cows from Tanor to City Hat via the Pobar Duari intersection that morning. He affirmed that they had purchased these cows from farmers in different villages of Tanor and that they were local, not Indian, before the BGB brought them back.

Attempts to contact the BGB for comment were unsuccessful. However, a Rajshahi BGB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintained that the cows were smuggled from India. The official confirmed that the seized cows have been handed over to the customs authorities in accordance with legal procedures.

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