SOME 102 drug smugglers and peddlers surrendered to the Cox’s Bazar district police on Sunday. The surrender took place just 10 months after security forces and law enforcement agencies announced “War against Drug”. Newspapers reported that most of the alleged drug traders were kept in the ‘safe-house’ provided by the police before the surrender. On the day, they came up with Yaba pills produced in neighbouring Myanmar.
Out of the 102 persons, the police branded 30 as ‘godfathers’ or patronisers while rests 72 were considered drug peddlers. Of the 30 persons, 13 were relatives, including 4 brothers of controversial local leader and also a former MP from Teknaf. Besides, seven others were elected representatives of local bodies.
Rapid Action Battalion Director General Benazir Ahmed in mid-August 2018 announced the launching of countrywide special anti-narcotic drive from May 4 last year. Since then at least 300 suspected drug peddlers were killed and over 30,000 were arrested in the hands of security forces. But we think the method, arranging the surrender programme for drug traders, keeping the masterminds in safe, would not bring any change. Even, several residents of Cox’s Bazar expressed their doubt about the purpose of the surrender when a local controversial and also highly influential leader remains out of anti-narcotics drive.
Several drug dens have been busted in Cox’s Bazar and elsewhere. As the drives started, most of the alleged godfathers went abroad while over two dozen surrendered to the District Court with their cases pending. According to the police documents, the police had placed a set of conditions for the surrender including informing the authorities about drug dealers and not getting involved in drug business again.
Bangladesh is not an illicit drug producing country. Rather the smugglers bring those from other countries. Of the drugs, phensidyl comes from India, now Yaba comes from Myanmar. A social resistance, political harmony, family values, moral and religious teaching with continuous awareness programme would help us to get rid of the Yaba menace. First of all, enough employment opportunity is needed to divert the unemployed youths from drug trade.
Out of the 102 persons, the police branded 30 as ‘godfathers’ or patronisers while rests 72 were considered drug peddlers. Of the 30 persons, 13 were relatives, including 4 brothers of controversial local leader and also a former MP from Teknaf. Besides, seven others were elected representatives of local bodies.
Rapid Action Battalion Director General Benazir Ahmed in mid-August 2018 announced the launching of countrywide special anti-narcotic drive from May 4 last year. Since then at least 300 suspected drug peddlers were killed and over 30,000 were arrested in the hands of security forces. But we think the method, arranging the surrender programme for drug traders, keeping the masterminds in safe, would not bring any change. Even, several residents of Cox’s Bazar expressed their doubt about the purpose of the surrender when a local controversial and also highly influential leader remains out of anti-narcotics drive.
Several drug dens have been busted in Cox’s Bazar and elsewhere. As the drives started, most of the alleged godfathers went abroad while over two dozen surrendered to the District Court with their cases pending. According to the police documents, the police had placed a set of conditions for the surrender including informing the authorities about drug dealers and not getting involved in drug business again.
Bangladesh is not an illicit drug producing country. Rather the smugglers bring those from other countries. Of the drugs, phensidyl comes from India, now Yaba comes from Myanmar. A social resistance, political harmony, family values, moral and religious teaching with continuous awareness programme would help us to get rid of the Yaba menace. First of all, enough employment opportunity is needed to divert the unemployed youths from drug trade.
