The dark side of JU
After the sun goes down, they start gathering behind the tea stalls one by one. Some find their spot behind a building, some others behind a large tree.
They are the drug addicts on the beautiful campus of Jahangirnagar University (JU).
They are seen roaming free almost everywhere on the campus -- near the former arts building, central playground, Shaheed Minar, Tarzan point, Meher Chattar, Murad Chattar and Bottola.
Thanks to lax security, the JU campus now has turned into a safe haven for drug addicts and peddlers -- both students and outsiders.
A couple of abandoned buses -- before being removed off the campus in early June -- were their most favourite spots.
After making several visits, this correspondent found those spots littered with discarded Yaba and other drug paraphernalia including syringes, aluminium foils, heroin powder, marijuana joint, liquor bottles and phensidyl bottles.
The drugs binges sometimes turn into indecent activities with several female addicts. The “carnival” usually starts around dusk and sometimes continues till dawn, said a JU transport staff requesting anonymity.
The abuse is also rampant inside the student dormitories of the university.
At Meer Mosharraf Hossain Hall, at least 10 rooms are known to be used for similar drug binges. Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as well as its affiliate left-leaning parties control these rooms, said residential students.
Last year, on August 11, the JU authorities suspended two students for drug abuse inside AFM Kamaluddin Hall. They had been caught in the act in room 335 of the dormitory.
The very next day, in another incident, the BCL unit of JU suspended its deputy relief secretary, Khan Mohammad Rois, and activist Mohammad Rasel for growing cannabis plants in Shaheed Rafiq-Jabbar Hall.
Even the JU BCL's joint secretary, Sajib Kumar Saha, was caught on camera last year while using heroin in the same dormitory. However, the university authorities did not take any action against Rasel or Sajib.
In October same year, a stash of drug paraphernalia was recovered from room 148 of Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall.
The situation at the other three male dormitories -- Moulana Bhasani Hall, Al Beruni Hall and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall -- is not any better.
Although no sensational incident came to light yet in the six female dormitories, drug abuse in those facilities are also widespread, alleged several students wishing to remain unnamed.
When the university is closed for vacation the situation turns for the worst as the deserted campus goes under the grip of the drug peddlers, complained several staff members living on campus.
While speaking with The Daily Star regarding the issue, Jewel Rana, president of JU BCL, said the organisation has a zero tolerance policy against drug abuse. “We'll take stern action if any of our leader or activist is found to be involved in any drug offence.”
After the situation of drug on the campus was brought up to Economics department's Prof Anu Muhammad, he said, “These hideous acts are not the works of a single man or group. Rather, a powerful cartel controls the trade under the blessing of the administration and ruling parties.”
In his view, this issue has to be addressed strongly as “addicts and traders of drug usually get involved in antisocial and subversive activities.”
Several other teachers and university officials this correspondent spoke with echoed Prof Anu's sentiment.
Sudipto Shaheen, chief security officer of JU, said they were aware of the situation. They increased vigilance and were conducting routine drives against drug peddlers and addicts.
Assistant proctor of JU, Dr Sharif Hossain, said “We increased our monitoring to curb abuse and trade of drugs on the campus.”
When contacted, JU Pro-VC Prof Abul Hossain said, “We apply zero tolerance for drug abuse [on the campus]. We have already taken various initiatives to keep the problem in check… We've started to install CCTV [closed circuit TV cameras] on several spots and are trying to bring the entire campus under a vigilance system.”
Increasing patrol at different spots and dormitories, cleaning up shrubs and bushes and setting up complaint boxes on the campus are among the other initiatives that are currently underway, he said.
“A few days back, we handed over several drug addicts, both students and outsiders, to Ashulia Police Station. However, people from all walks of life will also have to come forward and stand firm against drugs,” the pro-VC also said.
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