Threat from drugs, arms and underworld economy
Monday, 26 April 2010
The existence of an underworld facilitating all kinds of crimes is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. Only what ought to concern those who are now in charge of governance of the country is its current vast spread. The underworld as it exists in Bangladesh-- today --threatens to claw away the vitals of society. For example, drug addiction in Bangladesh is not new. But the addiction habit has spread alarmingly in recent times.
The rise in addiction is noted particularly among the young ones. But it is also spreading to all sections of people including women and housewives. A national daily recently reported that some 5,000 young women of a reputed college in Dhaka are addicted to regular drug taking. A survey showed that compared to a decade ago, addiction with phensidyl has increased by at least ten times and cases of seizure of phensidyl also increased by three thousand times. Similar has been the increase in the rate of addiction with other drugs such as heroin, marijuana, seduxin, mendrex, yaba and other so-called virility enhancing tablets.
According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the recent cases of most of the murders, extortion and muggings have a relationship with drug addiction. The young drug addicts having lost all senses, sensibilities or considerations are found swooping down on their victims to either pay for their addiction habits or carrying out the orders of their bosses who run the rackets. But the police need to explain what they have been doing to smash this world of addiction. The police and the Narocotics Control Department need also to answer to the allegations that they have collaborative relations with the drug rackets that inspire the latter to act with impunity.
Another national daily reported recently, quoting different sources, that some 0.4 million illegally possessed small arms are in circulation in the country in sharp contrast to only about 25,000 users of licensed arms. The number of illegal arms is considered to be also fast rising as law enforcement agencies are hardly able to set up effective barriers to their entry through different border points with neighbouring countries. The easy availability of these arms is a major factor behind the rise in the number of murders. Even youngsters below the age of 18 and in possession of such arms are freely resorting to killing as hired killers or acting upon the orders of their godfathers.
As it is, a lucrative underworld economy has sprung up. Drug trafficking is a big business. The proceeds from it are spent partly to procure arms and ammunitions from underground sources. The arms and ammunitions, in turn, are utilsed for various crimes. Thus, it forms a very vicious circle of crimes feeding further crimes.
If this process is allowed to continue unabated, there is a danger of Bangladesh soon becoming a country with a serious law and order problem. Obviously, such an identity will not ramp up either domestic or foreign investments. It is imperative that the government gets its act together and start a genuinely efficient countrywide operation against the underworld to ensure to the people the enjoyment of a peaceful and secure life and also to create an investment-friendly economic environment.
The rise in addiction is noted particularly among the young ones. But it is also spreading to all sections of people including women and housewives. A national daily recently reported that some 5,000 young women of a reputed college in Dhaka are addicted to regular drug taking. A survey showed that compared to a decade ago, addiction with phensidyl has increased by at least ten times and cases of seizure of phensidyl also increased by three thousand times. Similar has been the increase in the rate of addiction with other drugs such as heroin, marijuana, seduxin, mendrex, yaba and other so-called virility enhancing tablets.
According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the recent cases of most of the murders, extortion and muggings have a relationship with drug addiction. The young drug addicts having lost all senses, sensibilities or considerations are found swooping down on their victims to either pay for their addiction habits or carrying out the orders of their bosses who run the rackets. But the police need to explain what they have been doing to smash this world of addiction. The police and the Narocotics Control Department need also to answer to the allegations that they have collaborative relations with the drug rackets that inspire the latter to act with impunity.
Another national daily reported recently, quoting different sources, that some 0.4 million illegally possessed small arms are in circulation in the country in sharp contrast to only about 25,000 users of licensed arms. The number of illegal arms is considered to be also fast rising as law enforcement agencies are hardly able to set up effective barriers to their entry through different border points with neighbouring countries. The easy availability of these arms is a major factor behind the rise in the number of murders. Even youngsters below the age of 18 and in possession of such arms are freely resorting to killing as hired killers or acting upon the orders of their godfathers.
As it is, a lucrative underworld economy has sprung up. Drug trafficking is a big business. The proceeds from it are spent partly to procure arms and ammunitions from underground sources. The arms and ammunitions, in turn, are utilsed for various crimes. Thus, it forms a very vicious circle of crimes feeding further crimes.
If this process is allowed to continue unabated, there is a danger of Bangladesh soon becoming a country with a serious law and order problem. Obviously, such an identity will not ramp up either domestic or foreign investments. It is imperative that the government gets its act together and start a genuinely efficient countrywide operation against the underworld to ensure to the people the enjoyment of a peaceful and secure life and also to create an investment-friendly economic environment.