Arrest drug kingpins, even if they are ruling party leaders: Law minister

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has directed law enforcement agencies to take strict action against drug traders and criminals, regardless of their political affiliation or influence.

“Even if a ruling or opposition leader is involved in drug trafficking or is a godfather of the drug trade, your hands should not tremble when it comes to arresting them,” he said.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a law and order and development coordination meeting at the Bagerhat deputy commissioner’s conference room on Tuesday (15 September).

He said anyone facing allegations must be brought under the law, regardless of their position or political connections.

“Even if a powerful leader of the BNP, the political party from which I was elected as an MP, tries to provide protection, you must show zero tolerance. The law will take its own course. There is no favouritism here,” he said.

Asaduzzaman said a person’s political identity must not influence law enforcement decisions.

Referring to a recent case in his constituency, he said police had informed him of allegations against a BNP union general secretary over drug use and involvement in drug trafficking.

“I told them to arrest him. Why did they need to ask me? If he belonged to another political party, you would have taken the same action. You should do the same here,” he said.

The minister said the man tested positive for drug use after his arrest and was sentenced to one year in prison through a speedy trial process.

He said the accused had been one of the most dedicated workers during his election campaign.

“But for me, the first condition for being a genuine political worker is moral integrity. When we send someone to the people, they should see that he has come to speak against drugs. It cannot be that he himself is not free from drugs,” he said.

The minister urged law enforcement agencies not to allow political interference in cases involving drugs.

“Whoever is involved in drugs, there will be zero tolerance. No matter how senior a leader is, we will deal with it,” he said.

He said the government did not want the activities of a handful of drug traders to create a negative perception of any political party in Bagerhat.

“If 10 people in Bagerhat sell drugs and all 10 are assumed to be BNP members, their actions could make 10,000 people hate me and dislike the BNP. We will not take that risk as a political party or as a government,” he said.

On bail, Asaduzzaman said granting or refusing bail was a matter for the courts. However, he called for strict action against attempts to improperly influence the judicial process, including efforts to secure, grant or obstruct bail.

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At the meeting, the minister also alleged that BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists had faced repression over the past 17 years.

He claimed that more than 4,000 BNP activists had been subjected to enforced disappearance or killed in so-called “crossfire” during the period, while around 700 BNP leaders and activists were allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance over 16 to 17 years.

He also alleged that large numbers of “false and ghost cases” had been filed against BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists.

MPs from Bagerhat-1, Bagerhat-2 and Bagerhat-3 constituencies, a reserved-seat MP, the district council administrator, the deputy commissioner, police officials, lawyers’ association leaders, district BNP leaders, government officials and journalists attended the meeting.