The goodwill shown during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s state visit to India from September 5-8, which produced seven bilateral agreements, faces strain due to illegal cattle smuggling across the shared border into Bangladesh. The activity has grown substantially in recent years, with reports linking it to local politicians, officials, and Border Security Force personnel in areas such as Malda, Birbhum, and Murshidabad districts. Thousands of people are reportedly involved, and the annual value reaches hundreds of crores, exceeding the scale of the recent alleged teachers’ recruitment issue in the state. Since the Central Bureau of Investigation began its inquiry in September 2020, further details have emerged. The arrest of Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, accused of overseeing smuggling operations in Birbhum, has drawn attention to the trade. Following the arrest, activity at the Sukhbazar animal market in Ilambazar decreased for two weeks but has since resumed, according to recent visits to the site.
