Jewellers threaten to go on strike over seizure of Apan gold

Jewellers have issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the customs to release the gold confiscated from Apan Jewellers and threatened to go on strike otherwise.

The announcement by Bangladesh Jewellers Samity came on Wednesday following a two-hour meeting at the trade body's office in Paltan.

The association’s Vice President Enamul Haque said they also demanded that Moinul Khan be removed from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate as its director general.

The association also called for a gold import policy to help its businesses.

"A conspiracy came into play to destroy the industry and Moinul Khan is behind it," he alleged at a media briefing after the meeting.

On Sunday, customs detectives deposited to the Bangladesh Bank some 570kg of gold ornaments and over 7,000 diamond jewellery confiscated from Apan Jewellers.

File photo.

During raids on May 14-15, the jewellery was seized from the top brand's five outlets following which the authorities summoned owners.

Customs detectives interrogated the three owners – Dildar Ahmed, Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed twice following the raids, but they failed to come up with valid documents against the stock.

Dildar is the father of Shafat Ahmed who is arrested on charges of raping two university girls at a hotel in Banani. Three others, co-accused in the case, are also behind bars now.

The customs detectives launched the investigation into Apan Jewellers following the allegations.