–BY M.R AYAZ ROBI
Being an area inhabited by displaced Rohingyas of Myanmar and a border region, the local population of Ukhiya Teknaf is easily involved in drug trade, drug consumption or drug distribution in various ways. Due to the free flow and availability of drugs, the youth society has gradually reached the edge of destruction! Moreover, due to the open and unguarded borders in many cases, Rohingya people from Myanmar can easily enter the country and return freely. These Rohingya people are getting involved in yaba, drug trade and various crimes very fast.
Moreover, there are many self-interested cabals, including contractors, construction firms, suppliers, CNG/bus/truck drivers, helpers, current and former public representatives, formed under the umbrella of leaders of various political parties.
It is believed by many that most of the yaba trade or carrying is done by the people of Bhuiphod. Rohingya camp from different parts of the country, suppliers of various products, employees, officials, people involved in construction firms, including old businessmen! The Rohingya population has emerged as the source of these thousands of yaba.
A strong network of Yaba traders is said to have been created in association with the Rohingya population by some influential local people. There are also reports of local influential people investing money in the Rohingya community and running the Yaba business, a commission or margin of that business going to the influential people. These so-called leaders take on the role of protectors as public representatives, leaders or leaders in various dangers of smugglers. But they themselves are always out of reach of legal complications! It has been reported that these new and old businessmen have become millionaires overnight by trading billions of taka’s illegally. At present, they have closed the relationship with the business and are sitting behind the legal-illegal business as a saint, waiting for the next opportunity! People with legitimate and legitimate income are suffering from income discrimination in the society because of these dishonest criminals. But even if they (people of legitimate) are suffering inside, they are not showing it, trusting in Allah and moving forward!
The officials of the administration and various organizations must be aware of who was or is involved in these misdeeds, treasonous acts, and inhuman activities. Who is giving patronage, who is investing money, who is helping and supporting those directly involved, who is being the beneficiary in the background, under whose umbrella drugs, kidnapping, disappearances and murders are spreading corruption! Sometimes the ‘ghost inside the grain’ remains.
So exorcism becomes very difficult! Again, many members of the law enforcement forces are directly and indirectly involved in various crimes due to their greed, in their desire to become the owners of money overnight. There have been reports of taking billions of moneyes.
Ukhiya Teknaf, bordering Cox’s Bazar, has always been notorious as a paradise for drug and other smugglers. According to many, the zero tolerance policy against drugs and corruption declared by our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by keeping the borders open and unguarded is needless to say. An interesting question arises in the mind, is it the responsibility of the police to stop Yaba in Ukhia Teknaf? If not, what is the role of BGB, Coast Guard in water, RAB on land, Narcotics Control Directorate and other forces in guarding the border and to what extent? People find various answers to these questions. Whatever the answer, we await the investigation. If you live in the state, you have to obey the laws of the state!
According to the police, BGB and local representatives, the 61 km international Naf River divides the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. A few years ago, Myanmar built a barbed wire fence and border road on the Myanmar side of the Naf River (in Rakhine State). Still, large consignments of yaba enter Bangladesh through at least 18 unguarded border points in Naikkaingchari, Ukhiya and Teknaf. Every year, 50 thousand crore taka’s go from Bangladesh to Myanmar against the sale of Yaba. Occasional incidents of Rohingya infiltration through unguarded borders also occur. Many people think and believe that if the border road is built, BGB will be able to play a strong role in suppressing all border crimes including drug and weapons smuggling, Rohingya infiltration. Border security will also increase. Especially if BGB patrols are strengthened, 10,000 local fishermen will get safety in fishing in Naf river.
If the law enforcement forces come forward to fight drug and corruption with real heart and the political people of the country do not interfere in their work and extend their hand of cooperation – then fighting drug and corruption is not a matter for them! It is only a matter of time to implement the ‘zero tolerance against drugs and corruption’ policy announced by the honorable Prime Minister by removing drugs and corruption from the country!
But as the law enforcement agencies are apathetic, they cannot concentrate on the real service of the country due to various political pressures. As long as free movement cannot be stopped by closing the border routes of smuggling, illegal entry cannot be prevented by barbed wire fences at the border, law enforcement forces, field level members, officials, employees of various government agencies cannot stop their involvement in these crimes and Can’t raise awareness among the general public. As long as the networks of drugs and corruption cannot be dismantled and the people’s representatives of Bangladesh do not come forward to fight crime, it will never be possible to achieve a real victory against drugs and corruption.
As long as free movement cannot be stopped by closing the border routes of smuggling, illegal entry cannot be prevented by barbed wire fences at the border, law enforcement forces, field level members, officials, employees of various government agencies cannot stop their involvement in these crimes and if cannot raise the awareness of the common people, it is not possible to destroy the network of drugs and corruption. And unless the awareness of the common people can be raised, the drug and corruption networks cannot be dismantled, and the people’s representatives of Bangladesh do not come forward to fight crime, it will never be possible to achieve a real victory against drugs and corruption.
In making the policy of ‘Zero Tolerance’ against drugs and corruption announced by the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the law enforcement forces, BGB, Coast Guard, various intelligence bureaus, organizations and other government forces should be honest, courageous, responsible, dutiful and above all with a professional mindset. We should come forward with a great vow of service to the country and humanity. It has been published in various newspapers that there are multiple lists of smugglers and corrupt people from all over the country in the law enforcement agencies, various drug prevention organizations and the home minister’s office.
The government’s various anti-narcotics forces, including the law enforcement forces, the working members of various intelligence agencies know what is happening, who is involved, who is playing a role in the spread of drugs, who is involved in drug and other illegal trade, who is the mastermind, who is the informer. , transporters, traders, who are moneylenders or closely related to various drug and other illegal trades.
Finally, we have seen the humanitarian police closely while dealing with the Corona situation in Bangladesh. A policeman is not only a policeman but also a human being. Humans are not above mistakes. So not all police or law enforcement officers are angels made of light, nor are devils made of fire. They are the people of this planet made of flesh and blood made of clay.
Like us, the best creatures of God’s creation. Therefore, it is natural that they will have mistakes, good and bad, faults and mistakes, and honesty and humanity as well. As we do not expect wrong from the angels, we do not expect anything good from the devil either! So wrong and good together are people. All of which we are ready to accept.
( Writer: Columnist, Environment & Human Rights activist)