The spread of drugs in the country and the terrible drug addiction has made our national life miserable. The government and the concerned authorities have always been indifferent to the smuggling and infiltration of narcotics through various border routes. For good reason, the number of drug addicts in the country is increasing at a mathematical rate.
According to a UN report, 84 percent of drug addicts in Bangladesh are men and 16 percent are women. It also mentioned that about three and a half lakh people across the country are involved in drug business in various ways. In addition, the Department of Narcotics Control has identified 90 percent of drug addicts in the country as adolescents. Forty-five percent of them are unemployed and 75 percent are undergraduates. And the number of highly educated drug addicts is 15 percent. Which is really worrying.
According to statistics, drug addicts use drugs worth at least Tk 20 crore every day. On the other hand, about 3 million drug dealers across the country sell drugs worth at least Tk 200 crore every day. Lead has become popular with drug addicts in recent years. People are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide due to lead or herbal tobacco.
Studies have shown that once ingested lead, 4/5 times more carbon monoxide is taken than a cigarette. According to statistics, a drug addict spends a maximum of Rs 500 to a minimum of Rs 50 per day on his addiction. Addicts choose the heinous and criminal ways of murder, robbery, theft and robbery to provide money for this drug. Which is one of the causes of social catastrophe.
The number of drug addicts in the country is at least 5 million. According to some organizations, 6 million. In the nineties this number was less than one million. Although he started getting addicted to bidi-cigarettes, he gradually became addicted to drugs. And in order to raise money for drugs, teenagers get involved in various criminal activities.
In this opportunity, drug dealers, organized criminal gangs use them for various activities including murder, kidnapping and extortion. Once you get addicted to drugs, it is not easy for anyone to get out of it. As a result, drug addicts become more reckless day by day. Drug addiction is also the main reason for the increasing number of juvenile delinquents being published in various newspapers in our country. But the activities or initiatives of the government or those concerned are not at the desired level.
With the alarming rise in drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the 1980s, the Drug Control Ordinance 1979 was enacted in 1989 to address the problem of drug abuse, prevention of trafficking and its harmful effects and to treat and rehabilitate drug addicts. The Narcotics and Liquor Directorate was enacted in 1990 and the Narcotics and Liquor Directorate was replaced by the Directorate of Narcotics Control under the Secretariat of the President in the same year.
In 1991, the department was placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs. But this state institution has not been successful in controlling drugs in the country but the spread of drugs and the number of drug addicts in the country has increased alarmingly compared to the past. Recent drug seizure statistics show that heroin and marijuana abuse in the country is stable. Misuse of codeine-mixed phencidyl has declined somewhat. However, the abuse and seizure of yaba made by methyl amphetamines is currently on the rise.
Although drug addiction including yaba has increased at an unusual rate in the country, the concerned authorities have always remained indifferent. Although there is a 'Drug Control Department' in the country, it has now become a 'witness Gopal' organization. The most effective way to prevent drug addiction is to raise social awareness against drugs and drug addiction, stop drug infiltration, arrest and ensure exemplary punishment for those directly and indirectly involved in the drug trade. At the same time providing employment to the unemployed and general education in schools and colleges as well as moral and religious education, imparting proper knowledge about the evils of drug addiction and arranging treatment for drug addicts. But the state has not had much success in these cases.
Drugs and drug addiction are now the curse of our national life. Due to the indifference of the government and the concerned authorities, this deadly incident is not going to be eradicated or controlled in any way. The poison of drugs has spread in every nook and cranny of the society. It has spread almost all over the world. According to statistics, about 200 million people worldwide are involved in drug use. And this death intoxication is having a negative impact on the social structure, on the economic and social development, on the balance, on the law and order situation. We are not out of this global problem either. Although there is no drug production in our country, it is a serious risk area for drug abuse due to its geographical location. In addition, due to rapid urbanization, population growth, widespread use of the Internet and lack of public awareness, the drug problem has become uncontrollable day by day.
Although the government and the concerned departments seem to be very active in preventing drug infiltration and drug addiction in the country, the reality is completely different. In many cases, this death intoxication is also alleged to have indirectly received state patronage. Even a section of the country's elite class is not free from this allegation. And those in charge of drug control, especially in the field, are also accused of playing a role in the spread of drugs. The trend of taking drugs in Bangladesh has changed over time mainly due to eating fences.
The destructive drug is spreading from the city to the upper class as well as the middle and lower middle class from village to village. One of the reasons behind drug addiction is bad company, unwanted curiosity, mental problems, fatigue, insanity, depression, family unrest, drug use in the family, drugs, availability, unemployment and lack of awareness. Weaknesses in the proper application of the law to curb the spread of drugs can be blamed. The culture of impunity and the tendency to get over crime are no less responsible for this.
The lack of public awareness about drugs in our country should not be ignored. Basically, the general public has very little knowledge about different types of drugs and their side effects. People also have no idea how addiction occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to arouse the negative attitude of the new generation towards drugs. For this, the appropriate authorities and guardians including the government have to be extremely careful. It is not desirable for any family member to have a bad habit that leads the next generation astray. Just as you have to live a healthy life, you also need to inspire others. Only then is it possible to build a drug-free society of peace.
Recently, the spread of drugs in Bangladesh is becoming a national problem. Occasionally, law and order forces seize small and large consignments of narcotics. But compared to the actual picture, it is insignificant. Drug use and the drug trade are now widespread, not in the slums of low-income people. It has been headlined in various national media that there is drug use and business in the hall of Dhaka University, the highest educational institution in the country. Drug addiction has also spread widely among college and university students in the future of the nation. Which carries no auspicious hint.
According to the information received, illegal drug dealers in our country deliver drugs from big cities to remote areas of villages. These drug dealers have relationships with many influential people. Even allegations of political involvement are not to be ignored. So these anti-socials can easily continue the drug business without any hindrance. It also has an unethical relationship with various quarters due to its illicit dealings with the illicit drug trade. There are also allegations against government officials.
The lack of social awareness is no less responsible for the spread of horrible drugs in the country. There is a class of people in the society who pretend not to see even after seeing many immoral things. Or some play a silent role for fear of getting into unnecessary trouble. As a result, drug dealers and drug addicts got the courage to continue this misdeed with great enthusiasm. As a result, family ties, social norms and discipline are broken. The murder of a drug addicted son by the mother, the murder of the parents by the daughter, many more unpleasant and unwelcome incidents are the result of drug addiction.
The law enforcement agencies of the country have recently made a similar comment, saying, "It is not possible to stop the drug trade and consumption by defying the society by law alone." However, it is often seen that law enforcement forces arrest drug dealers with drugs. After being summoned to court, he was released on bail and re-engaged in this unethical business. Again in many cases those who are detained with drug shipments are just carriers. Those who are the root cause remain out of reach. As a result, it is not possible to break the drug trade syndicate, but drug power and drug trade remain irresistible. Note that the most talked about drug tablet of the present time is Yaba which is produced on the border of Myanmar. Students are the biggest buyers of this tablet. As a result, the mental and character of the students is deteriorating. Our youth is getting lost in the dark. Which has made the destination of the nation uncertain.
It is to be noted that the British media 'The Guardian' in a report on drug trafficking and trade in Bangladesh has identified Bangladesh as a route for drug smuggling. It has been said that Bangladesh is being used as a safe route to transport various types of drugs to South Asia or the Asian market. Due to the poor security of the ports in the region, this route is becoming popular and safe for smugglers as a smuggling route. For good reason, Bangladesh is now a sanctuary for drugs and drug addicts.
In an unexpected reality, the number of drug addicts in our country is increasing. As a result, it is having a serious negative impact on public health. Excessive drug use is damaging the kidney, liver and lungs of the user. Drug use has been linked to temporary sexual arousal, but in the long run it has been linked to loss of sexual ability. In addition, the incidence of high blood pressure and loss of fertility due to yaba is also increasing.
The horrific spread of drugs in our country can be clearly understood from the information provided by the Department of Narcotics Control. According to the department, a total of 1,06,536 cases were registered under this law in 2017 across the country. The cases are based on complaints, arrests and drug seizures from the Drug Control Department, police, RAB, BGB and the Coast Guard. And this number is almost double compared to 2016.
According to the information received, only 10 percent of the drugs seized during the operation by the law enforcement agencies were sold. And 90 percent of drugs are out of reach. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yaba tablets alone are sold in Bangladesh at around Rs 400 crore a year, with a market value of Rs 200 crore each with a market value of around Rs 8,000 crore. According to the annual report on drug control in 2016, the use of yaba has increased by 60 percent in 2016 as compared to 2008.
And compared to 2016, it has increased by 46 percent in 2017. Of the total drug addicts in 2012, the number of yaba addicts was 5.6 percent, in 2016 it was 31.61 percent. Which reminds us of the horrible drug spread in our country.
Mainly due to the indifference of the government and the concerned departments, the recurrent failure of the law enforcement agencies and the lack of public awareness, the spread of drugs in our country and the rampage of drug addicts has taken a terrible turn. As a result, our destination as a nation has become uncertain. Therefore, in order to save the country and the new generation from this destructive trend, the policy of zero tolerance against drugs and drug addicts has to be adopted. Otherwise, our path as a nation will not be smooth.
