Cox's Bazar, Apr 15 (V7N) - Teknaf Customs Department has sold 17 ownerless buffaloes smuggled into Bangladesh from Myanmar through an auction. Five of these buffaloes were calves. They were sold for a total of 11.25 lakh taka.
A patrol team of 64 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized the buffaloes from Kharangkhali embankment area of ​​Hoaykyong Union in Teknaf Upazila on the night of 12th. Later, as no owner was found, they were handed over to Teknaf Customs Department.
 
Masud Alam, warehouse officer of the Customs Department, said that in the first phase, the market price of the buffaloes was set at 17.7 million taka and the auction was organized last Sunday. Although 74 people participated in it, the auction was canceled as the desired price was not reached.
The next day, Monday (April 13), an open market auction was held again in the proposed border post area of ​​Pallanpara in Teknaf Sadar Union. 95 people participated in it. As the highest bidder, Messrs. Saheb Enterprises bid 9 lakh taka. The total price, including 25 percent income tax and VAT, stood at 11 lakh 25 thousand taka.
 
Mahbub Alam, owner of Messrs. Saheb Enterprises, said, "We bought 17 buffaloes at the auction. Out of these, 5 are calves and the remaining 12 are medium-sized buffaloes. We paid the final price including all expenses as per the rules."
Customs officer Md. Sohel Uddin said the animals were handed over to the highest bidder. He said the stolen goods were sold through auction following legal procedures.
 
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