Pabna, July 15 (V7N) - A woman carrying 200 gold rings was arrested at Kazirhat launch terminal in Bera Upazila, Pabna, on the evening of July 14. River police suspect the incident is linked to an organized gold smuggling network.
 
Kazirhat River Police arrested 25-year-old Karuna Khatun on Monday, around 6:00 PM, at the Kazirhat launch terminal under Aminpur Police Station. Karuna is the wife of Ishaq Ali from Gobindal village in Singair Upazila, Manikganj district.
 
According to police and local witnesses, Karuna was a regular commuter on the Kazirhat–Aricha river route. On the day of the arrest, her behavior drew suspicion from terminal authorities. Locals noticed inconsistencies in her conduct and detained her for questioning. River police were then called to the scene.
 
During a public search on the terminal platform, the police found 200 gold rings hidden in a red bag. The rings were tightly wrapped in cotton and sealed with adhesive tape to avoid detection. A female staff member from a nearby hotel assisted in the search. Police also summoned a local goldsmith to verify and weigh the recovered gold on-site.
 
The goldsmith confirmed that the total weight of the rings was 48 vori and 14 ana—roughly 564.4 grams. The estimated market value of the gold is approximately Tk 56.80 lakh. Karuna failed to present any valid documents or permits for carrying such a quantity of gold.
 
Arbind Sarker, Officer-in-Charge, (OC) of the Kazirhat River Police outpost, stated, “We acted immediately on local suspicion. The way the gold was concealed suggests a well-organized operation. She could not provide any legal paperwork, and we believe this may be part of a larger smuggling ring.”
 
Following the arrest, Karuna was handed over to Aminpur Police Station. A case has been filed against her, and preparations are underway to present her before the court. The investigation remains ongoing to determine the full extent of the smuggling operation and identify any potential accomplices.
 
Authorities have increased surveillance along key river routes, which are increasingly being used to transport illicit goods undetected. This incident marks another step in the effort to curb cross-district smuggling activities in Bangladesh.
 
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