Need to deactivate the drug mafia
Friday, 27 June 2008
THE figures stated by the director general of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse on Thursday, gives insight into the fearful conditions of the spread of drug addiction and related crimes in the country. According to the DNC director general, drug addicts in the country spend on average Taka 460 million every day on their addiction habit. He has also disclosed that about 100,000 people of whom 30 per cent are women and children, are involved in the illegal drugs trade, with Dhaka being the largest market. The survey by a non-governmental organisation estimated some 4.6 million as drug addicts in the country and, more significantly, 75 per cent of them are in the age groups between 15 to 30 years. Thus, the enormity of the challenge from abuse of drugs and the threat it poses particularly to the young people of the country, should be obvious.
The existence of a crime racket with tentacles deep into various related agencies and departments dealing with drug use and trafficking, was well established by a study by the by the Home Ministry. But unfortunately, that study report did not trigger a response which has led to a marked deterioration in drug-related offences. The racket, according to the report, operates in a manner that makes it impregnable. It can count on friends and facilitators in the related government bodies. Similar is its relations with officials of other concerned ministry and personnel of different government departments posted at the country's airports and seaports. The railways, specially the fast moving mail trains, are being utilised for the carrying of drug loads as some railwaymen are allegedly on the payroll of the mafia like the policemen. Ironically, the Department of Narcotic Control (DNC) itself allegedly harbours officials who have a hand in glove like relationship with the drug mafia. Thus, the unscrupulous personnel in government bodies in this country and their counterparts across the border in the neighbouring ones are alleged to be working for the mafia and also other elements found along the border-belt areas. Political heavyweights in the country were also identified for sheltering and protecting the racket.
The above should give an indication of the strength of the racket. The government seems pitted against a very formidable grouping of the underworld that draws its powers substantially from immoral sections of those in public service. Thus, actions directed against the racket will mean the government turning against some of its own employees. Undoubtedly, such a task will be an unpleasant one to take up in the first place. But the cleaner sections in the government must draw up their resolve and go for it because the health and vitality of the people and the economy, specially the prospects of the younger generations of the country, depend on their acting boldly and fearlessly.
Drug addiction was a limited problem in Bangladesh even in the early nineties. At that time, more was heard of Bangladesh as a transit point for drug traffickers and not as a major user country. But now the worry ought to be deeper as Bangladesh is gaining in significance as a user country. More and more people in the country are getting hooked to drug addiction. Reportedly, drug addiction is not remaining restricted to only the rootless poor or the rich in the country. The addiction habit is now a matter of concern in a large number of middle class homes of the country where parents have been helpless spectators to their otherwise promising teenage offsprings wasting away before their own eyes by becoming drug addicts. Thus, there is every need on the part of the government to organise first a detailed plan against the drug mafia before cracking down on it at the soonest. The plan needs to be carefully prepared in details for its effectiveness and nobody associated to the mafia should get wind of its probable time of operationalisation.
The existence of a crime racket with tentacles deep into various related agencies and departments dealing with drug use and trafficking, was well established by a study by the by the Home Ministry. But unfortunately, that study report did not trigger a response which has led to a marked deterioration in drug-related offences. The racket, according to the report, operates in a manner that makes it impregnable. It can count on friends and facilitators in the related government bodies. Similar is its relations with officials of other concerned ministry and personnel of different government departments posted at the country's airports and seaports. The railways, specially the fast moving mail trains, are being utilised for the carrying of drug loads as some railwaymen are allegedly on the payroll of the mafia like the policemen. Ironically, the Department of Narcotic Control (DNC) itself allegedly harbours officials who have a hand in glove like relationship with the drug mafia. Thus, the unscrupulous personnel in government bodies in this country and their counterparts across the border in the neighbouring ones are alleged to be working for the mafia and also other elements found along the border-belt areas. Political heavyweights in the country were also identified for sheltering and protecting the racket.
The above should give an indication of the strength of the racket. The government seems pitted against a very formidable grouping of the underworld that draws its powers substantially from immoral sections of those in public service. Thus, actions directed against the racket will mean the government turning against some of its own employees. Undoubtedly, such a task will be an unpleasant one to take up in the first place. But the cleaner sections in the government must draw up their resolve and go for it because the health and vitality of the people and the economy, specially the prospects of the younger generations of the country, depend on their acting boldly and fearlessly.
Drug addiction was a limited problem in Bangladesh even in the early nineties. At that time, more was heard of Bangladesh as a transit point for drug traffickers and not as a major user country. But now the worry ought to be deeper as Bangladesh is gaining in significance as a user country. More and more people in the country are getting hooked to drug addiction. Reportedly, drug addiction is not remaining restricted to only the rootless poor or the rich in the country. The addiction habit is now a matter of concern in a large number of middle class homes of the country where parents have been helpless spectators to their otherwise promising teenage offsprings wasting away before their own eyes by becoming drug addicts. Thus, there is every need on the part of the government to organise first a detailed plan against the drug mafia before cracking down on it at the soonest. The plan needs to be carefully prepared in details for its effectiveness and nobody associated to the mafia should get wind of its probable time of operationalisation.