IN spite of intense patrolling by the security forces smuggling of various intoxicating and hazardous drugs are continuing. In the latest incident on Sunday the Coastal Guards have seized two lakh pieces of Yaba tablets, the price of which would be about Tk 10 crores. The consignment had arrived in the estuary of the river Karnaphuli in Chittagong from Myanmar in a boat. It should be mentioned that this is not the only case of seizure. The security forces have seized about one lakh pieces of Yaba in August only. The smugglers have taken a new strategy and have been changing their routes very frequently. Instead of land routes they are using the rivers nowadays and sending drugs by small boats and trawlers. Secondly, they do not use any particular place for sending every consignment. In recent days places like Sabrang, Mogpara and Shikdarpara of Teknaf district have been used by them. These areas are situated in the bank of the river Naf. The third worrying fact is the tactful indulgence of the government of Myanmar. In every sector level meeting with BGB, Myanmar assured us that they would prevent smuggling of drugs. But on the other hand Myanmar has been allowing establishment of Yaba factories in Maungdaw, a town situated along the bank of the river Naf. About 37 such factories have been established in this western city of Myanmar.
The facts briefly mentioned above are undoubtedly very worrying as the drugs, especially Yaba is very hazardous for human bodies. On the other hand the young people, including mainly the students are addicted to this drug. As Yaba costs much most of the addicted young people become involved in activities like hijacking and robbery. They even steal from their own houses! The gentle, honest and pious society of the country has already started to decay due to such heinous and dangerous activities. If not prevented immediately the long cherished moral values of the society would be destroyed and the country would have to bear the burden of such a drug-addicted generation which would not be in a position to contribute for the nation’s prosperity. The talents of the young generation would also be diminished and this fatal trend would make the future generations crippled. In brief, the entire nation would come to a halt.
We do not want to imagine such a disastrous situation for our beloved country. So smuggling and marketing of the injurious drugs must be prevented at any cost. The government should react immediately, discourage Myanmar and make the border security forces more active and vigilant. The sellers must also be given exemplary punishment so that no new drug dealers dare to destroy the nation. Unfortunately our leaders seem mostly indifferent to this menace and those who smuggle it seem oblivious to the thought that they would suffer punishment. This must stop.
