Drug floods country

Peddlers prowl everywhere: Surge in addicts: Tk 50,000 cr business.

The number of drug addicts is increasing in the country rapidly. There has been a 16 percent growth of drug takers every year. Presently, about seven million people are drug addicts in Bangladesh. Globally this number is 200 million. The narcotics are entering Bangladesh from South Asian neighboring countries. These countries are Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Myanmar.

All types of narcotics despite the ban are entering the country easily. Bangladesh has become the transit route for drug traffickers. The drugs dreadfully deleterious to people especially the young generation include heroin, yaba, phensidyl. Besides, a new brand of drug ‘shisha’ has been a recent attraction for young people of rich families. Cocaine is also being smuggled into the country.

The lax security system is blamed for the use of the country as a transit for drug trafficking. It is alleged that the traffickers include a section of politically influential people and some members of law enforcement agencies. The total volume of the narcotics trade is worth Taka 50 thousand crore annually. These narcotics are destroying the talented students mostly of the private universities and English medium schools. The Directorate of Narcotics does not the adequate manpower to deal with this menace.

The stringent measure that is needed to combat the drug problem is not seen. The problem is gradually turning into a national crisis. The boys who are addicted to drugs are destroying not only their families but also the nation. Here comes the responsibility of the family to monitor the behavior of their children. Some members of Parliament told a round table on the abuse of drugs at Dhaka club on Thursday that the narcotics and harmful drugs are sold openly in some designated places around Dhaka University, and some private universities in Posh residential areas. The police very much know the places. But the law enforcers do not crack down on them. The drug peddlers are operating freely. The police often arrest them. But they are the carriers and not real smugglers. The RAB arrested some people this month with 28 lakh yaba worth Taka 100 crore. Yaba and phensidyl come in large volumes from India and Myanmar.

The FBCCI president suggested that the government should take a strong stand against the drug factories along the Bangladesh border which must be closed. Trading with these countries should be suspended. Besides, the BGB should be more vigilant to stop drug trafficking from these countries. Meanwhile, the facilities for treating drug addicts are also scanty. No government hospital has any facility to treat drug addicts. The private clinics are ill-equipped. Some of these clinics are virtually torture cells and demand huge money from the affected families. The government’s attention in combating this growing menace is inadequate. If urgent steps are not taken and law enforcers do not crack down on drug dealers, smugglers, and addicted people urgently, the problem may grow faster than expected. If that happens the country will face a serious crisis. (Source: The News Today)

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