Sagar Biswas :
Allegations have been raised against the Department of Narcotics Control [DNC], which controls intoxicating drugs in the country, for its failure to check widespread use of the drugs, mainly Yaba and heroin, due to unbridled corruption of its officials and employees.
Especially, the recent incident of liquid cocaine haul in Chittagong Port by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation has blatantly exposed the inability of DNC. The Special Branch of Police provided first hand information about the consignment, whereas, it was actually the task of DNC.
Not only that, the DNC also failed to detect existence of cocaine in the Sunflower oil in primary test conducted by its Chief Chemist Dulal Krishna Saha, though lab tests in Dhaka proved DNC examination totally bogus.
When contacted, Additional Director General of DNC, Md Amir Hossain, told The New Nation last night that it needs strong political commitment and attachment of all sections of the society to resist alarming drug abuse in the country.
“We didn’t deal with liquid cocaine ever. What we had seen was cocaine powder. Besides, the DNC has no sophisticated equipment to detect liquid cocaine mixed with Sunflower oil,” he said expanding the reason behind the failure of DNC.
The incapability of DNC has reached at such an extent that it was discussed in the National Parliament on Sunday as Jatiya Party lawmaker Firoz Rashid raised it in an unscheduled discussion. The opposition MP categorically blamed DNC for its failure to check the situation and shouldered responsibility on police for spreading the narcotic business to grassroots level.
“The use of intoxicating drugs is increasing alarmingly. Drugs are selling at different points, even adjacent to the prominent educational institutions, of the capital city. But our law enforcement agencies failed to check the situation. Some police officials are reportedly involved in drug business. Most of all, the DNC failed to check the alarming situation,” Firoz Rashid said.
There is a National Narcotics Control Board [NNCB] headed by home minister and comprising high civil and military officials. But it rarely sits in meeting to take decision about the alarming drug abuse issue. Even, the DNC does not take any initiative in this regard.
A senior police official said, “There is a national committee [NNCB] to deal with the drugs, but we never saw their activity. Besides, the basic tasks of DNC are – research, prevent drug abuse, creation of awareness, preparation of list of drug addicts and their treatment. But the DNC has failed to perform its designated job.”
“The condition of drug rehabilitation centers is in a very bad shape. Any drug addict sent there for treatment is hardly cured in absence of necessary care and attention. The DNC should build up its overall capacity”, he also said with a tone of disappointment.
There is widespread allegation that most of DNC inspectors, who are responsible to control drug business in designated circles, are directly involved in narcotics business getting patronization from the top officials. Instead of controlling the drug business they spread it by taking money from the drug traders. In Dhaka, the inspectors fight to get posting in some lucrative circles, including Gulshan and Motijheel. Especially, the Gulshan circle is so lucrative that the inspectors’ sometimes bribe millions of taka to senior officials to get posting there.
Meanwhile, millions of Yaba pill- a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine – are entering the country from Myanmar dodging vigilance of Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB] and other law enforcing agencies. Some international drug trafficking syndicates are controlling the multi-million dollar supply-chain of Yaba within the country in connivance with some local influential people, enjoying political blessings and a section of police, informed sources said.
They said, Yaba, also a sex-stimulating tablet, is entering southeastern bordering town of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district from Myanmar using the Naf River, a 14 km route between Teknaf and Shahpuri Island, using small boats, cargo vessels and fishing trawlers.
The drug smugglers are using the Sabrang Union of Teknaf upazila, which is very close to Maungdaw township of Arakan State in Mayanmar, as one of the main transits for the trafficking, according to sources.
