Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered a cache of high explosives and illegal weapons from a border area in Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar early today.

The recovered items include 24 tubes of Powergel Nine, a commercial high explosive used primarily in mining, tunneling, and construction blasting -- manufactured by India’s SBL Energy Limited -- along with 23 detonators, 15 metres of detonator cord, and three pipe guns, confirmed Lt Col Md Ataur Rahman, commander of BGB-52 Beanibazar Battalion.

According to BGB, several miscreants illegally entered Bangladesh carrying the items near Border Pillar 1375/M under the jurisdiction of the New Pallathal BOP at around 12:10am today.

Based on an intel, a joint special operation was conducted by two patrol teams. Sensing the presence of BGB personnel, the miscreants fled deep into the forest under the cover of darkness, BGB said.

Later, at around 12:40am, BGB recovered the high explosives and illegal weapons found abandoned from the Taradaram area of South Shahbazpur union, approximately 2-3km inside Bangladesh from Border Pillar 1375/M.

Lt Col Ataur said the recovery comes at a critical time ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election, and such infiltration of explosives and weapons appears to be an attempt to undermine national security and disrupt the peaceful election process. "The matter is being treated with utmost seriousness."

Legal proceedings in connection with the incident are underway, while investigations are ongoing in coordination with relevant intelligence agencies and law enforcement authorities.