Syed Shemul Parvez :
Drugs are now not just a social disease, but these have become one of the main weapons of destruction of the future of the nation. From the alleys of the capital to the remote rural areas, the reach of drugs is now everywhere.
Drug related crimes are happening all the time, including the killing of father by son, wife by husband, and friend by friend. In addition, social crimes and chaos including robberies, thefts, and juvenile gangs are increasing every day. When looking into the background of these crimes, it is seen that most of the incidents are due to drug abuse.
There are also cases of beating up family members, including elderly parents, and vandalizing their homes because they do not get money for drug use. Parents are becoming increasingly concerned about this. They are worried that their beloved children will lose their way in the drug flow and get trapped in the net of addiction.
Phensedyl, Yaba, marijuana, ice, LSD, DMT or other dangerous drugs are available at the earliest. Not only in person to person, but also online, there is a booming drug trade. Experts say that Bangladesh has now become one of the routes and markets for international drug traffickers.
From Africa, Mexico, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, Myanmar, Malawi to Europe and America, drug dealers are now looking at Bangladesh.
Though law enforcement agencies are active to curb the drug trafficking and drug dealers are being caught almost every day, but there is no visible improvement in the situation.
Meanwhile, isolated social movements are also being formed against drugs. That too is not yielding any results.
The laxity of some members of the country’s law enforcement agencies, sometimes directly involved in dishonest drug gangs – these are the reasons why efforts to control drugs are failing again and again. This deadly addiction has spread terribly.
Social analysts say that the rule of law and the commitment of politicians are needed to prevent drugs. Public representatives are also involved in this business. Drug dealers become millionaires overnight. This greed attracts others as well. To prevent this crisis, along with family and social movements, it is necessary to urge the awakening of morality and principles.
Multiple studies and recent media reporting indicate rising numbers of users, particularly among adolescents and young adults, with serious social consequences. One of the most visible impacts at household level is a rise in family disputes: conflicts over money, crime-related fear and stigma, domestic violence, and caregiver burden.
Recent literature reviews and national commentary estimate between 1.5 million and 2.5 million people affected by substance misuse; many reports emphasise heavy concentration among adolescents and young adults (roughly 15-30 years).
Urban Dhaka – street-connected children and young people in slums – has been a longstanding hotspot, but several studies and media investigations point to expanding availability and use in smaller towns and villages.
Col Mohammad Mohiuddin Ahmed, Sector Commander, BGB Ramu Sector, told The New Nation that Bangladesh has plenty of long land borders areas like 4,427 km with India and Myanmar.
It is very difficult to curb the drug trafficking in a vast land border with a short numbers of BGB force. Despite we are working tirelessly to curb the drugs with utmost efforts.
If we can’t decrease the demands of drugs, we will not be able to control the flow of drugs. We have also technological lacking to curb such things in the borders areas, he added.
Mrs. Shaharia Afrin, Associate Professor & Chairman of Criminology Department, University of Dhaka told The New Nation that despite having zero tolerance of administration against drugs, it is increasing in an alarming rate across the country leaving people in serious panic.
Due to advancement of modern technology, the rate of drug trafficking is rising massively. As a result, people specially youths are getting drugs easily through online and social media platforms, she said.
Nowadays youths are also addicted to newest drugs like ice, LSD, DMT or other dangerous drugs easily, Shaharia Afrin added.
On Wednesday, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) destroyed drugs worth Tk 1,322 crore seized in Cox’s Bazar.
The destroyed drugs include 2,00,33,949 pieces of Yaba, 140.049 kgs of crystal meth ice, 25.998 kgs of heroin, 4.405 kgs of cocaine, 52.800 kgs of hemp, 4 kgs of opium (Afeem), 61,491 cans of beer, 22,155 bottles of liquor, two bottles of whisky, 1,799.3 litres of local made liquor, 169 bottles of phensedyl, 192 cans of energy drink, 540 pots of drugs, 3,37,642 packets of cigarettes and 800 pieces of tablets.
Besides, 2693 arrested drug peddlers and drugs worth Tk 2,216 crore were handed over to police.
