Illegal drug trade rampant

Trading and smuggling of illegal drug have menacingly increased in   frontier villages of Nalitabari, Jhinaigati and Shreebordi upazilas of Sherpur district.
There has not been a letdown in abuse of drug and its trade despite punitive steps taken by law enforcers over the years.
Sources said at least 200 illegal drug traders have been sent to jail in the past couple of years. Apart from these, a total of 200 drug cases were filed with police station this year. Still, the traders continue to sell drugs dodging the vigilance of the law enforcers. Drugs are being smuggled into the country from India and stored in the frontier villages called ‘Drug Depots’.
On July 5, police arrested a boy with 20 bottles of foreign wine from the BRTC bus terminal at the North Bazaar in the Nalitabari town of the district, said Nalitabari Thana SI Mokti Mahamod. The boy -- Sheik Forid, 15, son of Mohammad Ali -- is an inhabitant of Konapara village.
On July 3, Jamalpur RAB-14 and CPC-1 jointly conducted a raid and arrested a youth with 24 foreign Whisky bottles, one mobile set and two SIM cards from in front of Taj Cinema Hall at Devathorpara village in the Jhinaigat upazila, said Jamalpur Camp Commander Assistant Police Superintendent AZM Tuimor Rahman.
The youth has been identified as SM Romzan Ali, 19, son of Abdur Gafor, an inhabitant of Pakoria village in the Sadar upazila of the district. Balijuri, Rangajan, Christian Para, Kharamora, Chakrapur, Hatibor, Malakocha, Bilborot, Officepara and Haloyahat in Shreebordi upazila are all considered ‘frontier villages’ and famous for drug business. Apart from these, Jolongah Madoppur, Chokchoki, Chandapara, Marakpara, Babelakona, Hariyakona, Boraichosi, Jolgow, Diglakona, Megadol, Kornojora, Singaborora and Matifata are the frontier villages where buying and selling of drug are rampant.
Sources said hundreds of drug addicts come to the villages to buy drugs every day. Both men and women in those villages are involved in the illegal activities. Heroin, yaba, phensydil, hemp, Indian wine and home-made alcohol are being supplied to the drug addicts and drug traders of the country.
Sherpur is a frontier district standing on the valley of the Garo hills bordering Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam. A land port has also been established at Nalitabari Nakogow village to connect Bhutan, Nepal and India. The actual distance of Bhutan is only 200 km away from Sherpur.  Near the port, a bridge has already been built across the Bogai River flowing down from India to the eastern regions of Sylhet and Sonamgonj while another bridge has been built across the river Brahmaputra to connect the northern regions of Jamalpur, Bogura and Rangpur.
Many believe that its geographical importance and good communication with the capital and different districts, and the neighbouring countries  Sherpur has become a hub of illegal drug trade.
A powerful syndicate is now smuggling different drugs from those frontier villages across the country using passengers and goods carrying vehicles, said sources.

Illegal drug trade rampant

Trading and smuggling of illegal drug have menacingly increased in frontier villages of Nalitabari, Jhinaigati and Shreebordi upazilas of Sherpur district. There has not been a letdown in abuse of drug and its trade despite punitive steps taken by law enforcers over the years. Sources said at least 200 illegal drug traders have been sent to jail in the past couple of years. Apart from these, a total of 200 drug cases were filed with police station this year. Still, the traders continue to sell drugs dodging the vigilance of the law enforcers. Drugs are being smuggled into the country from India and stored in the frontier villages called Drug Depots. On July 5, police arrested a boy with 20 bottles of foreign wine from the BRTC bus terminal at the North Bazaar in the Nalitabari town of the district, said Nalitabari Thana SI Mokti Mahamod. The boy -- Sheik Forid, 15, son of Mohammad Ali -- is an inhabitant of Konapara village. On July 3, Jamalpur RAB-14 and CPC-1 jointly conducted a raid and arrested a youth with 24 foreign Whisky bottles, one mobile set and two SIM cards from in front of Taj Cinema Hall at Devathorpara village in the Jhinaigat upazila, said Jamalpur Camp Commander Assistant Police Superintendent AZM Tuimor Rahman. The youth has been identified as SM Romzan Ali, 19, son of Abdur Gafor, an inhabitant of Pakoria village in the Sadar upazila of the district. Balijuri, Rangajan, Christian Para, Kharamora, Chakrapur, Hatibor, Malakocha, Bilborot, Officepara and Haloyahat in Shreebordi upazila are all considered frontier villages and famous for drug business. Apart from these, Jolongah Madoppur, Chokchoki, Chandapara, Marakpara, Babelakona, Hariyakona, Boraichosi, Jolgow, Diglakona, Megadol, Kornojora, Singaborora and Matifata are the frontier villages where buying and selling of drug are rampant. Sources said hundreds of drug addicts come to the villages to buy drugs every day. Both men and women in those villages are involved in the illegal activities. Heroin, yaba, phensydil, hemp, Indian wine and home-made alcohol are being supplied to the drug addicts and drug traders of the country. Sherpur is a frontier district standing on the valley of the Garo hills bordering Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam. A land port has also been established at Nalitabari Nakogow village to connect Bhutan, Nepal and India. The actual distance of Bhutan is only 200 km away from Sherpur. Near the port, a bridge has already been built across the Bogai River flowing down from India to the eastern regions of Sylhet and Sonamgonj while another bridge has been built across the river Brahmaputra to connect the northern regions of Jamalpur, Bogura and Rangpur. Many believe that its geographical importance and good communication with the capital and different districts, and the neighbouring countries Sherpur has become a hub of illegal drug trade. A powerful syndicate is now smuggling different drugs from those frontier villages across the country using passengers and goods carrying vehicles, said sources.