Country facing drug problem due to geographical position
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday informed the parliament that law enforcement agencies lodged 1,19,878 cases against 1,61,323 drug traders in 2018.
A total of 6,156 cases against 6,671 drug traders were lodged between January to May this year, the minister said while answering a query of Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque.
He said that illegal drugs entered Bangladesh from India and Myanmar.
“Although Bangladesh is not a narcotics-producing country, due to its geographical location Bangladesh is now facing drug problems,” he said.
He said yaba -- the much-talked-about drugs in recent times -- is coming from Myanmar through the Naf river, while cannabis, phensidyl, heroine and injectable drugs are coming from India.
“To prevent entry of yaba in Bangladesh, the government has created a temporary circle of Narcotics Control Department comprising nine officials. Besides, an anti-narcotics team of 19 officials, including 10 battalion Ansars, are working in Cox’s Bazar district,” he said.
He also said there is a plan to establish a naval unit in Teknaf to stop drug smuggling.
He said, at present, Ansar personnel have been deployed in five bordering districts while necessary deployment will be made gradually in other border districts of the country, along with officials of Narcotics Control Department.
The home minister while answering another query from ruling Awami League MP Mouazzam Hossain Ratan said law enforcers are keeping militants -- released on bail, arrested or convicted -- under close surveillance.
Asaduzzaman Khan also said that government is creating positions for police, as the number of police officials was not adequate to maintain law and order.
Currently, the total number of sanctioned posts for police is 2,12,007, among which 2,01,393 are for police and 10,614 for non-police, he said while answering a query of AL MP Mozaffar Hossain.
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