Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have arrested a man and recovered a valuable touchstone Shivling idol weighing 245 kilograms during an anti-smuggling operation in Naogaon.
The arrested individual has been identified as Mostafa Ali, 34, also referred to as Golam Mostafa, son of Gahir Uddin Pramanik of Chak Rajballav village under Naogaon Sadar Upazila.
The estimated market value of the recovered touchstone idol is BDT 2.45 crore.
In a press release sent to the media cell group on Wednesday evening, Lieutenant Colonel Ariful Islam Masum, Commanding Officer of 16 BGB (Naogaon Battalion), informed that a taskforce conducted the raid in the Chak Rajballav area of Sadar Upazila on Wednesday.
Lt Col Masum stated that BGB received secret information that Mostafa Ali had kept a valuable touchstone Shivling idol in his possession for smuggling purposes.
Based on the tip-off, a taskforce was formed to conduct the drive, leading to the recovery of the 245kg idol from Golam Mostafa.
The process of handing over the seized Shivling along with the arrested suspect to Naogaon Sadar Model Police Station for necessary legal action is currently under way.
Lt Col Masum further reiterated that BGB’s operations against illegal smuggling and drug trafficking across the border areas of Naogaon and Chapainawabganj will continue in full force.
