An entire family involved in the local drug trade, how often do you see it? Other than TV shows, there is very little chance of it happening. It is even rarer to see the entire family get out of dealing drugs without a bloody shootout that resembles a Mexican cartel or a Hollywood TV show.
But that is exactly what happened in Brahmanbaria. No casualties, no shootouts, no stand-offs. Just a family with 39 outstanding cases against them surrendered in a drab, uneventful fashion at the police station.
A family of seven – each of them involved in the drug trade around Akhaura, Brahmanbaria – surrendered to the police and pledged to never get involved in drugs again.
Four brothers – Basir Miah, Md Ibn Miah, Nasir Miah and Jibon Miah – were involved in the drug trade along with their wives Hasina Begum, Noyontara, Shahina Begum and Kobita Akhtar.
In police stations all over Brahmanbaria, there are 17 cases filed against Basir, 10 against Nasir, nine against Ibn and three against Jibon.
There are a total of 36 cases filed against the three brothers who surendered, while the fourth, Jibon, was arrested some time ago
Dhaka TribuneThe family, residing in Noapara, Akhaura, was struck with terror when police announced their names on a list of 40 top drug dealers operating in Brahmanbaria. About 12 of them had been killed in police raids and internal strife over the past one year.
Jibon was arrested some time ago, and is currently incarcerated. The rest of the family surrendered on Sunday to Brahmanbaria SP Mizanur Rahman.
Basir, Ibn and Nasir were sent to jail. But the women were let go after they signed affidavits swearing off any future involvement with drugs.
The three brothers, before departing for prison, said: “We made a grave error by getting involved in this life. This was a mistake. We are never selling drugs again. And we swear to discourage other drug dealers to continue operating as well.”
SP Mizanur, in a statement to the media, said the police have taken a stern position on drugs. He said it was the police’s overwhelming operational capabilities that encouraged the family to surrender.
“Other drug dealers ought to follow their example. If they do not surrender of their own free well, we will convince them otherwise.”