Muhammad Yousuf, the Additional Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) on Monday said that the DNC is not concerned about alcohol but is currently worried about yaba.
"The control of yaba in the country is out of hand. If this continues, the youth will be destroyed,” he said.
He made this statement during a seminar titled “The Harmful Effects and Remedies of Drug Abuse for the Welfare of the Nation” held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), where he attended as the chief guest.
Highlighting the situation, Muhammad Yousuf said: “We are not worried about alcohol. Just as it is controlled globally, it is also under control in our country, which is an Islamic nation. Alcohol cannot be completely eradicated, but it is regulated to the extent possible. Apart from alcohol, heroin, cocaine, opium, and cannabis are also under control. However, yaba is beyond anyone’s control and is spiraling out of control.”
Discussing the dangers of yaba, he added: “Consuming yaba for three to four consecutive years causes an individual to become mentally dead. At a certain stage, a yaba addict cannot speak, becomes emaciated, and eventually dies. Rehabilitation for yaba addicts is also ineffective as they become almost physically incapacitated.
"Bangladesh does not have any yaba factories; all of them are located in Myanmar. If the demand for yaba in our country falls to zero, it will stop being smuggled from other countries,” he said.
