The luggage businessmen

Khamin sheds light into the phenomenon of travellers bringing restricted and untaxed items from foreign countries through their personal luggage, into the country and its markets, and how this affects the entire system

photo by Prito Reza

Around seven months ago, Masud Habib went to the IDB bhaban, at Agargaon, to buy a rechargeable battery for his digital camera.

After browsing a number of shops, Masud was overcome by confusion and dilemma. While one store asked for Tk 500 for a pair of the battery he was looking for, another shop asked for Tk 700 per pair. ‘I was confused about the real brand and the actual price,’ he tells to Xtra, later.