Law enforcers' failure blamed

Speakers at a discussion yesterday said drug addiction is slowly gripping the young generation of our country and the problem is becoming acute due to failure of law enforcers to eliminate illegal drug trade.
They emphasised the need to raise awareness among parents and amend Drug Control Act to ensure highest punishment for illegal drug traders.
The discussion titled “Our duty to prevent crime and drug" was organised by Association for Law Research and Human Rights (ALERT) in the city's Cirdap auditorium.
Addressing the programme, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-3 Director Lt Colonel Rafiqul Islam said law enforcers could not stop spread of illegal drugs due to some loopholes in Drug Control Act.
"We arrest drug traders every month but they get bail from court and start the business again,” he said.
He also pointed out that law enforcers could not continue drives in full swing due lack of funding for informants.
In many cases, law enforcers pay informants with a portion of the confiscated illegal drugs instead of money, which the informants ultimately sell, he added.
The speakers stressed the need for increasing manpower, modern equipment for Narcotics Control Department and campaign against illegal drugs to create awareness among adults.
Deputy Inspector General (Dhaka Range) of Police Asaduzzaman Miah said police often could not bring illegal drug traders under trial for their political identity.
He said every anti-illegal drug organisation should come under a banner to build a strong platform against such influential drug traders.
He claimed that introduction of mobile courts for drives against illegal drug trade proved effective in stopping the trade.
Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker said police are trying to stop the trade and hopes that the government would take steps to provide police with modern equipment for such drives.
Home Minister Advocate Shahara Khatun said the government would hopefully be able to stop illegal drug trade soon.
ALERT Chairman Advocate Mohammad Jahangir Alam chaired the programme.