Following the recent arrest of a special branch police official, the police headquarters has formed a committee to investigate the involvement of law enforcers in contraband yaba trading.
According to a press statement issued by the police headquarters, the four-member probe body headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (criminal investigation department) Saiful Haque includes Kazi Zia Uddin, assistant inspector general (PIO), Abdus Salam, assistant police super (discipline and professional standard) and Feni district Police Superintendent Rezaul Haque.
The committee was asked to submit its report within seven days.
Another three-member committee was formed with Police Special Branch Additional DIG Mahbub Chowdhury as the chief to investigate involvement of police officials in human trafficking.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque ordered to take stern action against detained ASI Mahfuzur Rahman and his associates who were involved in yaba smuggling.
“We would not take responsibility of any police officials who are involved with any kind of crime. We have zero tolerance policy against such crimes,” said the IGP yesterday.
He also directed to arrest all the responsible police officials and their associates immediately.
This is not the first time allegations have surfaced against police officials for abetting drug smuggling and human trafficking. Couple of months earlier, state-run intelligence agency, in a special report, mentioned 26 police officials of Cox’s Bazar for their involvement in drug business.
Allegations were also raised against Cox’s Bazaar parliament member Abdur Rahman and his 10 other family members.
However, Abdur Rahman, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune recently, claimed himself innocent.
In the meantime, statistics from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) show the rise of yaba smuggling due to the joint nexus of police and political leaders.
The number of yaba pills seized in the first four months of the current year has surpassed any other previous records.
Between the year of 2008 and 2013, a total of 71,12,900 yaba tablets were seized across the country while 65,12,869 yaba tablets were seized in 2014.
However, in the first four months of 2015 a total of 58,51,334 yaba pills have been seized and the number is likely to increase by the end of the year.
Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, director general of DNC said world’s noted drug producing areas are situated on the south-east and north-west side of Bangladesh making the country a popular smuggling route.
More than 100,000 people are directly involved with illegal drug trading, according to the reports prepared by the DNC, police and other intelligence agencies.