Country critically vulnerable to narcotics-induced hazards

Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin yesterday said Bangladesh is critically vulnerable to narcotics-induced hazards and the number of drug users is increasing in the country leading to a great concern to the government.
While inaugurating a two-day workshop on 'Narcotics law enforcement' at a city hotel, the home adviser said though Bangladesh does not produce any narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances illegally, it is used as a transit country for drugs produced in the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent.
Quoting the annual report of International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) published in March this year, MA Matin said, “Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from South East Asia and heroin consignments destined for Europe are increasingly passing through Bangladesh.”
According to the report, the common methods and routes for smuggling heroin into Bangladesh are by courier from Pakistan, by commercial vehicles and trains from India and by sea via the Bay of Bengal or over land by truck or by public transport from Myanmar, he added.
Speaking as the chief guest, the home adviser said the use of drugs and crime go hand in hand and many crimes are committed under the influence of drugs.
Home Secretary Md Abdul Karim, IGP Nur Mohammad and Director General (DG) of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) Md Humayun Kabir spoke at the inaugural function as the special guests while Wanchai Disates, assistant director of Narcotics Law Enforcement, office of the Narcotics Control Board Thailand, presented a keynote paper.
Additional IGP NBK Tripura, who is also national project director of Police Reform Programme (PRP), and Hubert Staberhofer, PRP project manager, also attended the function.
IGP Nur Mohammad termed the drugs a cancer for the society and said due to the global location of Bangladesh, it is being used as the routs for drugs trafficking and smuggling.
DG of DNC Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh does not produce drugs but the people consume it, adding that Yaba is now one of the most addictive and stimulant drugs in the country.
The speakers also said drug trafficking and smuggling are also a political threat as funds from trafficking in narcotics are extensively used to fund terrorist outfits.