Poisonous alcohols, drugs: Death trap to many
Dr. Syed Nesar Ahmad Rumy :
A news report said four persons died having poisonous alcohol at Mirpur and Poradah areas of Kushtia. The source of alcohol is the sweeper’s colony of Poradah, the railway town at Kushtia. Persons having alcohol were treated at Kushtia Sadar hospital and Rajshahi Medical College hospital. But they died ultimately of having poisonous alcohol. In this respect incident may be mentioned happened at Gaibandha in the year of 1999. About hundreds of people died of having poisonous spirit in that incident. Out of this in the recent past we are used to get such type of news in the media. But we do not get much reaction and sufficient discussion from the appropriate authorities to overcome such situations.
We know the department of narcotics is assigned for the administration and proper management of alcoholic items. But of such incidents what was their reaction and what measures they have taken as a statutory government institution do not become public. So, general people could not understand their performances and activities in this regards. There are many addiction items accredited in Bangladesh. Time to time law enforcing agencies detect the rackets of them and place them before the court. But those activities could not stop the streams of contraband drugs and addiction items. It seems all these activities appear to the common people as piecemeal solution. And those initiatives do not have much impact on our society. The young generation in our country is now at stake of being addicted more than previous time for various reasons.
It is very much astonishing that a huge number of West African people, especially from Nigeria come to Bangladesh. Many of them comes here as soccer players. But a huge number of them are involved in drug trafficking. The embassies of Bangladesh in West African countries must scrutinize the visa papers and the reasons before issuing visas to them for coming to Bangladesh.
Mostly illegal drug items come to Bangladesh from Myanmar and Thailand through this route. Many influential people are believed to be involved at Teknaf area in this drug and addiction items trafficking. Apart from this there are some points in Indo-Bangla border are regarded as drug trafficking routes. Even air route is also used as drug trafficking in Bangladesh. Now ‘Cristal Meth’ a kind of drug items comes to Bangladesh through Teknaf route and other border points of Bangladesh. This drug item is comparatively new than ‘Yaba’. After Yaba this Cristal Meth is taking space among the drug addicted people in Bangladesh. This situation is very much alarming. The law-enforcing agencies and narcotics department should take appropriate steps right now. Otherwise situation may go beyond control.
Sometimes, we get complain from the accused persons that members of law-enforcing agencies intentionally put small quantity of contraband items to their possession and then arrest them. If this is true then it is a clear violation of human rights and extreme point of harassment. The high-ups of law enforcing agencies should take cognizance of these events and must address this situation. Even some members of the agencies are also drug addicted. Sometimes we see the news in the newspapers that some members of the law-enforcers lost their jobs of having possession of drugs by their authority.
Recently new tension evolves in the camps of Rohingas at Teknaf, Ukhia areas. Many Rohingas get involved in different underworld activities. Some of them are doing business of drugs and liquors. For their inner conflicts some of them also shot dead. Law-enforcers also keep their vigilance to the Rohinga camps. But there might be some loop-holes in the administration of Rohinga camps. Often we see different news of drugs trafficking, arms trafficking in Rohinga camps in the newspapers. Authorities concerned should address this situation so that we can minimize the untoward incident evolving in the Rohinga camps.
Social activists and other high-ups of the society should come forward and raise their voice against this illegal and contraband consignment of drugs. But it is sorry to say that such initiatives to combat drugs, liquors and contraband items are not seen sufficiently nowadays.
(The writer is a former civil servant and freelancer).
