Drug addiction rampant at RU

The practice of drug abuse leads to an increase crime incidents, such as theft and snatching, on the campus

Narcotics are being rampantly sold and used in Rajshahi University (RU), Bangladesh’s second most important educational institution.
With drug syndicates making narcotics easily available on the campus, the number of addicts among teachers and students is increasing by the day. They choose places on the campus and adjoining areas as their meeting points.
Sources said the Betar ground (near the university main gate), Fine Arts Chattar, University School ground, mass graveyard, central gymnasium and tennis court, Shahid Minar (in front of the university central mosque), Kazla, Mirzapur, Mizaner mor, the place behind Binodpur Dashmari, Meherchandi, and even the rooftops of the residential halls  were the hotspots of drug sale and abuse. Law enforcement agents are believed to be aware of the situation.
However, RU proctor Prof. Mojibul Haque Azad denied the allegation. “We've no information about this. The university administration will take immediate steps if it receives any allegation regarding this situation,” he said.
Local people said a good number of teachers and students, including the female students, flock to these spots to take drugs openly. They also alleged that policemen regularly patrolled these haunts, but without any effect.
Some claimed that law enforcers took bribes from the drug syndicates and allowed them to thrive. The practice of drug abuse has led to an increase crime incidents, such as theft and snatching, on the campus and also in student messes.
It was learned that students were being driven to addiction due to jilted love affairs, failed exams and bad company.
A female student of the history department said: “I had a boyfriend while I was in the first year, but he left me without any reason. Since then, I got addicted to drugs and kept the company of other addicts to find mental satisfaction.
Many student leaders are addicted to drugs, and they extort money from general students when they run out of supply.”
Rakibul Hasan, a residential student of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, said: “On most nights, we see a few political leaders and activists taking drugs on the roof of the hall, but we cannot tell them anything, as we are not law enforcers.” Another student from Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall said: “Some senior students take drugs on the roof of the hall.”
The chief medical officer of the Rajshahi University Medical Centre (RUMC) alleged that leaders and activists of different political parties often used the ambulance of the medical centre to carry drugs to remote places. When contacted, Dr Enamul Haque, a teacher of the psychology department, told this correspondent that taking drugs was the first stage of frustration among students that could even lead to suicide.
The university authorities and police should be sincere about eradicating the drugs problem from the campus, he felt.
Prof. Sayenuddin, acting vice-chancellor and treasurer of RU, however, denied the allegation.
“We will take steps if we get any information about our students being addicted to drugs,” he said. “We will install CCTV cameras at important places to get information about any crime on the campus. That will reduce crimes,” he added.
Humayon Kabir, officer-in-charge of Motihar police station, said: “The Rajshahi district administration and our police station are taking various programmes to bring addicts back to normal life.”
“Besides, we plan to increase our patrolling on the campus to catch addicts and drug sellers red-handed,” he added.

 

Drug addiction rampant at RU

The practice of drug abuse leads to an increase crime incidents, such as theft and snatching, on the campus

Narcotics are being rampantly sold and used in Rajshahi University (RU), Bangladeshs second most important educational institution. With drug syndicates making narcotics easily available on the campus, the number of addicts among teachers and students is increasing by the day. They choose places on the campus and adjoining areas as their meeting points. Sources said the Betar ground (near the university main gate), Fine Arts Chattar, University School ground, mass graveyard, central gymnasium and tennis court, Shahid Minar (in front of the university central mosque), Kazla, Mirzapur, Mizaner mor, the place behind Binodpur Dashmari, Meherchandi, and even the rooftops of the residential halls were the hotspots of drug sale and abuse. Law enforcement agents are believed to be aware of the situation. However, RU proctor Prof. Mojibul Haque Azad denied the allegation. Weve no information about this. The university administration will take immediate steps if it receives any allegation regarding this situation, he said. Local people said a good number of teachers and students, including the female students, flock to these spots to take drugs openly. They also alleged that policemen regularly patrolled these haunts, but without any effect. Some claimed that law enforcers took bribes from the drug syndicates and allowed them to thrive. The practice of drug abuse has led to an increase crime incidents, such as theft and snatching, on the campus and also in student messes. It was learned that students were being driven to addiction due to jilted love affairs, failed exams and bad company. A female student of the history department said: I had a boyfriend while I was in the first year, but he left me without any reason. Since then, I got addicted to drugs and kept the company of other addicts to find mental satisfaction. Many student leaders are addicted to drugs, and they extort money from general students when they run out of supply. Rakibul Hasan, a residential student of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, said: On most nights, we see a few political leaders and activists taking drugs on the roof of the hall, but we cannot tell them anything, as we are not law enforcers. Another student from Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall said: Some senior students take drugs on the roof of the hall. The chief medical officer of the Rajshahi University Medical Centre (RUMC) alleged that leaders and activists of different political parties often used the ambulance of the medical centre to carry drugs to remote places. When contacted, Dr Enamul Haque, a teacher of the psychology department, told this correspondent that taking drugs was the first stage of frustration among students that could even lead to suicide. The university authorities and police should be sincere about eradicating the drugs problem from the campus, he felt. Prof. Sayenuddin, acting vice-chancellor and treasurer of RU, however, denied the allegation. We will take steps if we get any information about our students being addicted to drugs, he said. We will install CCTV cameras at important places to get information about any crime on the campus. That will reduce crimes, he added. Humayon Kabir, officer-in-charge of Motihar police station, said: The Rajshahi district administration and our police station are taking various programmes to bring addicts back to normal life. Besides, we plan to increase our patrolling on the campus to catch addicts and drug sellers red-handed, he added.