Drugs and crime in Bangladesh

Despite recent strong economic growth, poverty in Bangladesh continues to be pervasive.
Nearly half of its 150 million population live below the poverty line. Bangladesh features the third highest number of poor people living in a single country after India and China. These  challenges are magnified by a population density of roughly 800 people per square
kilometre—one of the highest in the world. Such poverty fuels many high-risk behaviour patterns, including commercial sex work. This is obviously a risk factor for the spread of HIV. While, as an Islamic country, Bangladesh proscribes the consumption of alcohol, there is significant abuse of this substance. Porous borders with India and Myanmar permit trafficking in drugs and other contraband.
Drug Situation
Production and cultivation
Cannabis is still cultivated, particularly in the districts of Naogaon, Rajshahi, Jamalpur and Netrokona in the northwestern region, as well as the hilly districts near Cox’s Bazaar, Banderban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati in the southeast (bordering Myanmar). Reliable figures for the total area of cannabis production in Bangladesh are not available, but cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tract region is reportedly on the increase. The army and the Border Guard Bangladesh in the southeastern hilly region have reported that the overall cannabis production has increased significantly in recent years.
Manufacture
Bangladesh is not believed to manufacture any narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances illicitly. It also does not manufacture any precursor chemicals except hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid.
Trafficking
Bangladesh is a transit country for drugs produced in the Golden Triangle and, to a much lesser degree, the Golden Crescent. Reports from the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau also indicate that heroin is smuggled from India to Bangladesh through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. Nonetheless, the smuggling in, diversion and abuse of pharmaceuticals originating from India is considered to be the largest drug problem in Bangladesh. Commonly abused pharmaceuticals are Phensidyl® (a codeine-based cough syrup), Tidigesic® (buprenorphine) and pethidine injections.
Demand

Key Facts Consumption of both opium and cannabis are traditional in Bangladesh. Other drugs such as heroin began to be smuggled into the country only in the 1980s. The smuggling, diversion and abuse of pharmaceuticals originating from India is considered the single largest drug problem in Bangladesh. Commonly abused pharmaceuticals are Phensidyl® (a codeine-based cough syrup), Tidigesic® (buprenorphine) and pethidine injections. There are approximately 20,000 -25,000 IDUs in the country. The most commonly injected drug is buprenorphine (commonly known by the trade name1 Tidigesic®). Poly drug use is common. Bangladesh is considered a “low prevalence, high risk situation” for HIV/AIDS. However, recent trends indicate that in certain areas the HIV/AIDS prevalence among IDUs may be approaching the concentrated epidemic mark (5%). According to research, certain outreach interventions have been effective in reducing the size of the sharing group (of needles and syringes) among IDUs. In areas where such interventions occurred, 25% of IDUs shared with three persons or more against a much higher 40% in areas where no outreach programme existed. In contrast to 87% of the current IDUs from intervention sites, only 66% of IDUs in districts without outreach interventions knew that syringe and needles sharing could spread HIV. Recently, a new heroin trafficking route has opened up from the north central states of India eastwards into Bangladesh. A portion of this product is consumed in Bangladesh while some is destined for overseas. Bangladesh is a source country for women and children being trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, involuntary domestic servitude and debt bondage. The estimated number of women and girls trafficked annually out of the country is 10,000 – 20,000. Some reports indicate that 40,000 children from Bangladesh are involved in prostitution in Pakistan. There is also significant internal movement within the country to urban centres for the same purposes.

Bangladesh has clearly moved from being a transit country to one where so-called ‘hard’ drugs are used. The number of drug users is increasing in both urban and rural areas. The number of injecting drug users (IDUs) is also on the rise, with the majority using buprenorphine. The drug most frequently used by drug-dependent persons reporting to treatment centres is heroin. Phensidyl®, a codeine-based cough syrup imported from India,  is generally considered to be the most widely abused drug. There are approximately 20,000 25,000 IDUs in the country (Reid and Costigan 2002). The most commonly injected drug is buprenorphine (commonly known by the trade name Tidigesic®). Polydrug use is common and may include marijuana, Tidigesic®, Phensidyl®, alcohol, codeine, nitrazepam, ‘brown sugar’ (heroin ‘cooked’ with vitamin C) and diazepam. A survey included a collection of both secondary as well as primary data, which comprised of observations, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and interviews with drug users.
In most districts both heroin smokers and drug injectors were found. Ten percent of all drug users who reported ever having smoked heroin started doing so at the age of 17 or earlier. Three percent of all injectors started injecting before the age of 18 years. The mean age of onset for heroin smoking was 24 years, while the mean age of onset for IDU was 28 years. The dynamics of switching to injecting from heroin smoking were also studied and the finding that 87% of current IDUs had once been heroin smokers and many drug users went back and forth from one type of drug use to another, suggests that the drug use pattern keeps changing.
More than 25% of IDUs in districts with outreach interventions, 99% of IDUs in districts without outreach interventions and 99% of all heroin smokers in all districts were not in contact with any outreach programme. The study also reported that a spillover of illicit drugs occurs around the drug trafficking network.
Trafficking and drug
Bangladesh possesses laws to prevent trafficking.
 Some social services are provided for trafficking victims. In early 2004, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs attempted to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking. In 2003, it established ‘one-stop’ crisis centres in two hospitals for female victims of violence and human trafficking.
Legislation
The Narcotics Control Act of 1990 (Act Number XX of 1990) covers the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependent people.
Bangladesh has amended the narcotics act and allows the Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control to send drug addicts for treatment. Drug use is considered a treatable condition rather than a criminal offence.
Policy – Crime
The constitution of Bangladesh provides “to enjoy the protection of the law and to be treated in accordance with law, is an undeniable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being in Bangladesh, and in particular no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law”.
 The constitution further provides that “every person accused of a criminal offence shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law”. (Reprint)
Source: UNODC

 

 

Drugs and crime in Bangladesh

Despite recent strong economic growth, poverty in Bangladesh continues to be pervasive. Nearly half of its 150 million population live below the poverty line. Bangladesh features the third highest number of poor people living in a single country after India and China. These challenges are magnified by a population density of roughly 800 people per square kilometreone of the highest in the world. Such poverty fuels many high-risk behaviour patterns, including commercial sex work. This is obviously a risk factor for the spread of HIV. While, as an Islamic country, Bangladesh proscribes the consumption of alcohol, there is significant abuse of this substance. Porous borders with India and Myanmar permit trafficking in drugs and other contraband. Drug Situation Production and cultivation Cannabis is still cultivated, particularly in the districts of Naogaon, Rajshahi, Jamalpur and Netrokona in the northwestern region, as well as the hilly districts near Coxs Bazaar, Banderban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati in the southeast (bordering Myanmar). Reliable figures for the total area of cannabis production in Bangladesh are not available, but cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tract region is reportedly on the increase. The army and the Border Guard Bangladesh in the southeastern hilly region have reported that the overall cannabis production has increased significantly in recent years. Manufacture Bangladesh is not believed to manufacture any narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances illicitly. It also does not manufacture any precursor chemicals except hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid. Trafficking Bangladesh is a transit country for drugs produced in the Golden Triangle and, to a much lesser degree, the Golden Crescent. Reports from the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau also indicate that heroin is smuggled from India to Bangladesh through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. Nonetheless, the smuggling in, diversion and abuse of pharmaceuticals originating from India is considered to be the largest drug problem in Bangladesh. Commonly abused pharmaceuticals are Phensidyl (a codeine-based cough syrup), Tidigesic (buprenorphine) and pethidine injections. Demand Key Facts Consumption of both opium and cannabis are traditional in Bangladesh. Other drugs such as heroin began to be smuggled into the country only in the 1980s. The smuggling, diversion and abuse of pharmaceuticals originating from India is considered the single largest drug problem in Bangladesh. Commonly abused pharmaceuticals are Phensidyl (a codeine-based cough syrup), Tidigesic (buprenorphine) and pethidine injections. There are approximately 20,000 -25,000 IDUs in the country. The most commonly injected drug is buprenorphine (commonly known by the trade name1 Tidigesic). Poly drug use is common. Bangladesh is considered a low prevalence, high risk situation for HIV/AIDS. However, recent trends indicate that in certain areas the HIV/AIDS prevalence among IDUs may be approaching the concentrated epidemic mark (5%). According to research, certain outreach interventions have been effective in reducing the size of the sharing group (of needles and syringes) among IDUs. In areas where such interventions occurred, 25% of IDUs shared with three persons or more against a much higher 40% in areas where no outreach programme existed. In contrast to 87% of the current IDUs from intervention sites, only 66% of IDUs in districts without outreach interventions knew that syringe and needles sharing could spread HIV. Recently, a new heroin trafficking route has opened up from the north central states of India eastwards into Bangladesh. A portion of this product is consumed in Bangladesh while some is destined for overseas. Bangladesh is a source country for women and children being trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, involuntary domestic servitude and debt bondage. The estimated number of women and girls trafficked annually out of the country is 10,000 20,000. Some reports indicate that 40,000 children from Bangladesh are involved in prostitution in Pakistan. There is also significant internal movement within the country to urban centres for the same purposes. Bangladesh has clearly moved from being a transit country to one where so-called hard drugs are used. The number of drug users is increasing in both urban and rural areas. The number of injecting drug users (IDUs) is also on the rise, with the majority using buprenorphine. The drug most frequently used by drug-dependent persons reporting to treatment centres is heroin. Phensidyl, a codeine-based cough syrup imported from India, is generally considered to be the most widely abused drug. There are approximately 20,000 25,000 IDUs in the country (Reid and Costigan 2002). The most commonly injected drug is buprenorphine (commonly known by the trade name Tidigesic). Polydrug use is common and may include marijuana, Tidigesic, Phensidyl, alcohol, codeine, nitrazepam, brown sugar (heroin cooked with vitamin C) and diazepam. A survey included a collection of both secondary as well as primary data, which comprised of observations, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and interviews with drug users. In most districts both heroin smokers and drug injectors were found. Ten percent of all drug users who reported ever having smoked heroin started doing so at the age of 17 or earlier. Three percent of all injectors started injecting before the age of 18 years. The mean age of onset for heroin smoking was 24 years, while the mean age of onset for IDU was 28 years. The dynamics of switching to injecting from heroin smoking were also studied and the finding that 87% of current IDUs had once been heroin smokers and many drug users went back and forth from one type of drug use to another, suggests that the drug use pattern keeps changing. More than 25% of IDUs in districts with outreach interventions, 99% of IDUs in districts without outreach interventions and 99% of all heroin smokers in all districts were not in contact with any outreach programme. The study also reported that a spillover of illicit drugs occurs around the drug trafficking network. Trafficking and drug Bangladesh possesses laws to prevent trafficking. Some social services are provided for trafficking victims. In early 2004, the Ministry of Women and Childrens Affairs attempted to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking. In 2003, it established one-stop crisis centres in two hospitals for female victims of violence and human trafficking. Legislation The Narcotics Control Act of 1990 (Act Number XX of 1990) covers the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependent people. Bangladesh has amended the narcotics act and allows the Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control to send drug addicts for treatment. Drug use is considered a treatable condition rather than a criminal offence. Policy Crime The constitution of Bangladesh provides to enjoy the protection of the law and to be treated in accordance with law, is an undeniable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being in Bangladesh, and in particular no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law. The constitution further provides that every person accused of a criminal offence shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law. (Reprint) Source: UNODC