Addicts and women drug peddlers rising alarmingly

Drug business thrives

Drug business is growing alarmingly in Jhenidah involving youths and students of colleges and universities. The number of women drug peddlers is also rising fast in the areas, especially in  Kaliganj, Kotchandpur and Moheshpur upazilas. The menacing trend has raised concern in the society.
Many say Kaliganj has become a notorious place for the illicit trade attracting drug addicts and peddlers from across the country. One can easily get various drugs, including phensidyl, ganja, heroin, spirit and pethidine, a tranquiliser from there.
On June 15, police arrested two female drug peddlers-Morjina Khatun, 40, wife of Sajib Hossain of Bamaondah village and Jobada Khatun, 41, wife of Nazim Sheik of Solemanpur village in Kotchandpur
upazila in Jhenidah. There are several cases against them with the police station, said Ahmed Kabir, Officer-in-charge of Kotchandpur police station.
Police recently arrested drug peddler Rubel Hossain, 24, of Mailbaria village in Moheshpur upazila with 30 bottles of phensidyl from Kotchandpur upazila, said the OC.
On May 27, a mobile court, led by Moheshpur upazila AC Land, Executive Magistrate Hafiz-al-Asad, convicted seven drug addicts to six months of imprisonment.
On May 26, another mobile court, headed by Hafiz-al-Asad, convicted seven drug addicts to eight months and four drug addicts to seven months of imprisonment and two other drug addicts were fined Tk five thousand each.
There are also several places where various drugs are sold everyday in the district under the very nose of the local administration. Few days ago, a vegetable vendor was caught selling phensidyl in Jhenidah town.
It is alleged that despite the drives by BGB, RAB, police and Narcotics Control Department through mobile courts and action against
drug peddlers, the illegal trade is still on the rise. This is mainly because the drug peddlers come out again in few days and resume their activities.
According to the Department of Narcotics Control in Jhenidah, three sons of late Nukul Sarker - Sarajit, Pran Ballav and Manojit of Jhenidah town have licences to supply spirit to 550 addicts, Ruhul Amin of Kotchandpur has 224 listed drinkers and Rakibul of Moheshpur upazila has permits to supply the liquor to 70 people in the district. One such consumer is permitted to buy 9.5 litres of country spirit a month.
But it is reported that the licensees supply spirit to a total of over 2,000 drinkers in the district by collecting more spirit illegally. Besides, the traders mix water with the spirit to multiply the quantity.
Md Mosharrf Hossain, Inspector, Department of Narcotics Control Jhenidah told The Independent that they could not conduct drives properly as they had no vehicle of their own and no arms to counter the terrorists. A team comprising only five members is responsible for controlling narcotics in the district. Some 117 cases were filed against the drug dealers last year.
Deputy Commissioner of Jhenidah Md Shafiqul Islam said “We are determined to wipe out the drug menace from our society at any cost. Whenever we get any information from local sources we are conducting mobile court as soon as possible, and we are taking stern action against the drug dealers.

Addicts and women drug peddlers rising alarmingly

Drug business thrives

Drug business is growing alarmingly in Jhenidah involving youths and students of colleges and universities. The number of women drug peddlers is also rising fast in the areas, especially in Kaliganj, Kotchandpur and Moheshpur upazilas. The menacing trend has raised concern in the society. Many say Kaliganj has become a notorious place for the illicit trade attracting drug addicts and peddlers from across the country. One can easily get various drugs, including phensidyl, ganja, heroin, spirit and pethidine, a tranquiliser from there. On June 15, police arrested two female drug peddlers-Morjina Khatun, 40, wife of Sajib Hossain of Bamaondah village and Jobada Khatun, 41, wife of Nazim Sheik of Solemanpur village in Kotchandpur upazila in Jhenidah. There are several cases against them with the police station, said Ahmed Kabir, Officer-in-charge of Kotchandpur police station. Police recently arrested drug peddler Rubel Hossain, 24, of Mailbaria village in Moheshpur upazila with 30 bottles of phensidyl from Kotchandpur upazila, said the OC. On May 27, a mobile court, led by Moheshpur upazila AC Land, Executive Magistrate Hafiz-al-Asad, convicted seven drug addicts to six months of imprisonment. On May 26, another mobile court, headed by Hafiz-al-Asad, convicted seven drug addicts to eight months and four drug addicts to seven months of imprisonment and two other drug addicts were fined Tk five thousand each. There are also several places where various drugs are sold everyday in the district under the very nose of the local administration. Few days ago, a vegetable vendor was caught selling phensidyl in Jhenidah town. It is alleged that despite the drives by BGB, RAB, police and Narcotics Control Department through mobile courts and action against drug peddlers, the illegal trade is still on the rise. This is mainly because the drug peddlers come out again in few days and resume their activities. According to the Department of Narcotics Control in Jhenidah, three sons of late Nukul Sarker - Sarajit, Pran Ballav and Manojit of Jhenidah town have licences to supply spirit to 550 addicts, Ruhul Amin of Kotchandpur has 224 listed drinkers and Rakibul of Moheshpur upazila has permits to supply the liquor to 70 people in the district. One such consumer is permitted to buy 9.5 litres of country spirit a month. But it is reported that the licensees supply spirit to a total of over 2,000 drinkers in the district by collecting more spirit illegally. Besides, the traders mix water with the spirit to multiply the quantity. Md Mosharrf Hossain, Inspector, Department of Narcotics Control Jhenidah told The Independent that they could not conduct drives properly as they had no vehicle of their own and no arms to counter the terrorists. A team comprising only five members is responsible for controlling narcotics in the district. Some 117 cases were filed against the drug dealers last year. Deputy Commissioner of Jhenidah Md Shafiqul Islam said We are determined to wipe out the drug menace from our society at any cost. Whenever we get any information from local sources we are conducting mobile court as soon as possible, and we are taking stern action against the drug dealers.