Tk 20m in gold seized from passenger arriving from Malaysia at Dhaka airport

About 1.19 kg in gold bars and 96 grams of gold ornaments hidden inside a machine have been seized from the passenger’s luggage

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The Dhaka Customs House has seized gold worth around Tk 20 million from a passenger returning to Bangladesh from Malaysia at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport.

Dhaka Customs House Preventive Officer Barun Das told bdnews24.com on Monday morning that the gold was seized after the passenger was detained and searched based on a tip-off.

The passenger, named Md Suman, lives in Bhatnikhola village in Chandpur's Shahrasti Upazila.

Barun said that the man landed at Shahjalal International Airport at 11:35pm on Sunday on a Batik Air flight (OD-162) from Malaysia.

The passenger's baggage was scanned based on a tip-off and a total of 1.29 kg of gold - including 1.19 kg in gold bars and 96 grams of gold ornaments - were seized. They were hidden inside a machine for making gold rings.

The official also said that a criminal case is being processed against Suman.

Shahjalal International Airport Revenue Officer Mizanur Rahman Munshi said, "We are also embarrassed to ask various questions to passengers who come to Shahjalal from abroad. International smuggling rings are using helpless expatriates to send this gold to our country.”

"Our country's money leaves the country through hundis and various other means. In return, the passengers bring in this gold thinking that it is ordinary gold. This is how our country’s money is taken abroad. The state is harmed."