Drug syndicates turn aggressive amid crackdown

The country’s drug situation has now taken a dangerous new turn. As a result of the government’s “zero tolerance” policy on narcotics and special operations by law enforcement agencies, drug traffickers who have been cornered are becoming increasingly reckless.

Over the past 20 days, organised drug syndicates have carried out attacks on police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel and ordinary citizens in Natore, Narayanganj and Satkhira. These incidents have caused growing concern. Previously, drug traffickers would go into hiding when they learned of anti-narcotics operations. Now, however, in order to protect their illegal trade and avoid arrest, they are launching surprise attacks on officers and members of the police, RAB and the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC).

Sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police Headquarters said that a nationwide special anti-drug drive, including in the capital, has been underway since 1 May. Following the current government’s declaration of a zero-tolerance policy against drugs after assuming office, traffickers, finding themselves cornered, have resorted to violent attacks. Police statistics show that 19,049 drug-related cases were filed across the country during the first four months of this year. Of these, 1,940 cases were filed in the Dhaka Metropolitan area alone. Since the launch of the special operation, 433 drug traffickers have been arrested in the capital over the past 12 days.

Police officials believe that the disruption of the traffickers’ supply chains as a result of the crackdown has created panic among them, prompting attacks on law enforcement personnel in an effort to protect their existence.

RAB personnel have faced the highest number of attacks while conducting operations against powerful drug syndicates. On 5 May, members of a civil team from RAB-11 came under a surprise attack by drug traffickers while carrying out an operation in Fatullah, Narayanganj. Three RAB members were seriously injured in the incident. A similar attack took place last Tuesday in Lalpur, Natore.

There, drug traffickers organised an assault on members of RAB-5 while they were preparing for an anti-drug operation. Five personnel, including Ashikur Rahman, Minhajul Islam, Al Amin and Riazul Karim, were injured. A member named Shahin was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition. According to reports, RAB personnel in plain clothes led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Parvez Munshi had gone to identify a drug hotspot when they were attacked by traffickers under the leadership of local drug kingpin Sohag.

When contacted about the matter, RAB-5 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Masud Parvez said yesterday: “RAB remains firm in its stance against narcotics. Drug traffickers will not be given any leniency. We first gather intelligence and then conduct operations.”

Meanwhile, local residents Abdus Sabur Sana, Kabir Hossain Sana and Sohel Hossain were injured in an attack by organised drug traffickers in the Borodol area of Ashashuni, Satkhira, last Tuesday. They were admitted to hospital. The victims alleged that the attackers had long been involved in drug trafficking in the area and assaulted them for protesting against it. Ashashuni Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamim Ahmed said yesterday: “We have received a complaint regarding such an incident. The matter is being investigated to determine what actually happened.”

On 15 March, Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman and Constable Arif Hossain of the Narayanganj Railway Police Outpost were assaulted while conducting an anti-drug operation in the Golachipa rail line area of Narayanganj city. Police claim that associates of two detainees attacked the officers in an attempt to free them during the operation.

Officials of the Department of Narcotics Control, who are at the forefront of anti-drug drives, are also facing growing risks. On condition of anonymity, a DNC official said that several officers had recently come under attack in Muksudpur, bordering Madaripur and Gopalganj, while attempting to arrest a drug trafficker. The officers had gone to search the trafficker’s house when the criminals deliberately began shouting “robbers, robbers”, causing local residents to become confused and attack the officials. The attackers seized the officers’ walkie-talkies, handcuffs and identity cards and held them captive until police later rescued them.

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The incident demonstrates that drug traffickers are no longer relying solely on brute force; they are also attempting to manipulate ordinary people psychologically in order to confront law enforcement agencies.

To counter armed attacks by traffickers, the Department of Narcotics Control is now changing its strategy. Officials have been granted approval to use firearms. Mukul Jyoti Chakma, Deputy Director of the department, said: “Drug traffickers now carry weapons. At times our officers become helpless when confronting them.”

He said that at least 50 DNC officers are currently undergoing rigorous physical and firearms training at the Police Training Centre (PTC) in Rajshahi. Once the training is completed, they will be supplied with pistols and revolvers. Officials believe that conducting operations with armed and trained personnel will make it easier to arrest criminals and reduce the risk of attacks on officers.

Investigations have also revealed that, alongside government operations to combat the growing drug menace, the active involvement of local public representatives has attracted attention. Sayed Uddin Ahmed Hanzala, Member of Parliament for Madaripur-1, has made a landmark announcement aimed at turning Shibchar upazila into a drug-free area. In a video message posted on his verified Facebook page on 10 May, he said: “Anyone in Shibchar who helps catch a drug trafficker will receive a cash reward from my personal fund.”

He further declared: “Even if someone from my own party or any influential person is involved in drug-related activities, they will not be spared in the slightest.” His announcement has strengthened anti-drug efforts at the grassroots level. The Shibchar model is now being widely discussed across the country as an example of raising public awareness and building a drug-free society.

Source: Kaler Kantho