Home affairs adviser retried Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday called drug and corruption as the worst afflictions of society and lamented that no measures could rein in their rampant spread.
He also asked the Department of Narcotics Control to concentrate on capturing the godfathers of the drug rackets, instead of nabbing the peddlers and other small fries only.
鈥榃e have not been able to control drugs and corruption, but more offenders involved with drugs are caught now compared with the past.鈥�
His remarks came at a press briefing at the secretariat on the occasion of 鈥業nternational Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025鈥� to be observed today.
Noting that drug peddlers are mostly being arrested, while the godfathers remain untouched, the home adviser, instructed the narcotics control department to nab the actual masterminds behind the drug trade.
鈥極nce the name of Bodi (former lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi from Cox鈥� Bazar) was associated with drugs, but now many Bodis have emerged. They must be identified and brought to justice.鈥�
Replying to a question about the alleged involvement of a section of members of the law enforcing agencies in drug trafficking, he said, legal action would be taken against anybody if found involved in such acts.
A high official had already been closed for suspected link to drug trafficking and would be brought to justice soon, he mentioned.
Jahangir also said the government was going to construct rehabilitation centres for individuals suffering from drug addiction in seven divisions at a cost of Tk 1,400 crore.
He also alleged that contraband drugs, including Phensedyl syrup and Yaba tablets were being smuggled into Bangladesh from India and Myanmar.
鈥榃e have requested the government of these two countries to dismantle the drug factories there, but they do not admit about their existence when they sit with us,鈥� the adviser said.
When a journalist asked whether the anti-drug drives in Dhaka were effective, narcotics control department director general Hasan Maruf admitted that the drives had little success. He also alleged that along with government officials, members of the mass media were also involved in the racket.
He cited recent operations in the capital鈥檚 Banani, where individuals from different professions were found involved in the drug racket.
Noting the government鈥檚 support to the narcotics control department, Jahangir Alam at the briefing addressed its chief saying, 鈥業t鈥檚 no longer enough to catch drug peddlers. The godfathers must be apprehended. They are sitting at Intercontinental hotel, having tea with us, mingling around. Action must be taken against them.鈥�
At the event, the home affairs adviser also gave financial grants to the representatives of 32 private drug rehabilitation centers.
The narcotics control department conducted 44,923 anti-drug drives between January and May. It filed 11,373 cases and arrested 12,128 people during this period.
