What steps taken to curb Yaba trade?

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has to give a statement in parliament on what steps the government is taking to stop Yaba peddling across the country, Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Feroz Rashid told Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.

Referring to the recent media reports on the booming trade of Yaba tablets, Feroz said the contraband drug is smuggled into the country from Myanmar.

Speaking on a point of order, the MP said Yaba users, especially young people, do not hesitate to get involved in any criminal activities to manage money to buy such pills.

As a result, the number of crimes, including murder and hijacking, increased to a great extent, he added.

Feroz called upon the home minister to take tough actions against the illegal trade.

According to the US Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) fact sheets on Yaba, effects of its usage include addiction, psychotic behaviour and brain damage.

Chronic use can cause violent behaviour, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, delusions and paranoia.

During the late 90s, Yaba used to be smuggled from Thailand in a small amount. Since 2000, it began to enter the country in large numbers from Myanmar through Teknaf border.

The sale of Yaba, a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine, is so high that a recent police report estimates that 38,000 pills are sold every day in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police areas of Uttara, Gulshan, Ramna, Tejgaon, Mirpur and Motijheel.