Govt to go tough against drug smuggling

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Sunday the government would be very trough to put an end to smuggling through different bordering points of the country, reports UNB.

"Steps are being taken against those who are engaged in drug smuggling. Even law enforcers and public representatives will not be spared if they are found involved in such heinous act," the home minister said while taking to reporters after attending a view-exchange meeting over border problems and solutions at BGB Headquarters at Pilkhana in the city.

A total of 33 Members of Parliament (MPs) of the bordering constituencies and top officials of different law enforcement agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Bangladesh Coast Guard and police, took part in the meeting.

Mentioning that drugs come from India and Myanmar through border points as those illegal items are not produced inside the country, Khan urged the local MPs concerned to increase surveillance across the border areas to check the inflow of drugs as well as to identify smugglers, involved in drug smugglings.

Referring to the outcome of the meeting, the Home Minister said most of illegal drugs are being entered inside the country through different points of Teknaf in Cox's Bazar. MPs, who attended the meeting, gave a number of suggestions to check drug smugglings.

The MPs also suggested to strengthen capability of law enforcement agencies, specially BGB and Coast Guard, the Home Minister said the government has already taken initiatives to bring dynamism in BGB and Coast Guard.