Old Dhaka has turned into a haven for drug peddlers and addicts, with peddlers bribing the police officials in the area to keep quiet.
Locals say addicts buy and use drugs openly on the streets and sometimes even in broad daylight. At night, some of these addicts mug the passersby by threatening them with razor blades.
Sources say the Bangshal, Gendaria, Babubazar and Mitford areas in Old Dhaka are considered a haven for drug dealers and addicts. Most of the drug spots are near police stations. The officials of these stations, however, say they know nothing about it.
According to different sources, police officials from these stations get a large share of the drug money. For a bottle of Phensidyl, a drug dealer makes a profit of Tk400 and gives the policeman Tk200.
Bangshal police station’s Officer-in-Charge Abdul Kuddus told this correspondent that sometimes complaints of drug dealing are made from the Mitford area. “We regularly conduct drives and remove them from the area,” he said.
When asked about the mugging, he said if complaints are made to the police station, the police take action, and also conduct regular raids to arrest such criminals.
Students from a number of school and colleges in Old Dhaka often witness drug addicts administering drugs and are also harassed by them.
Concerned parents and guardians say they fear their children may get attracted to these practices if the addicts are allowed to use drugs in the open.
Sunil Sarker, an officer of Agrani Bank, told this correspondent that he regularly accompanies his daughter to and from college to prevent addicts from harassing her.
Dr Asoke Kumar Saha, associate professor of psychology at Jagannath University, says children are naturally more inclined to do what their parents prohibit them from. Also, they may be negatively affected by the attitude of the addicts.
Residents of the area feel insecure for the widespread drug use. Shipon Gain, a student of Kazi Nazrul College, describes how he was mugged by an addict.
“I was walking in Noyabazar area on Thursday around 7pm, when suddenly a man with dirt all over him demanded Tk10 from me and threatened to attack me with a blade if I did not give it to him,” he said.
Inspector Abu Salam Mia of Kotowali Police Station told this correspondent that the police were investigating the complaints about drug addicts.
“Actions will be taken soon,” he said, when asked about drug use in broad daylight.
He denied the allegations of taking bribe from drug dealers by saying that if evidence was found against any police official taking bribes, actions would be taken against them.
According to sources, Kotowali area, although declared a drug-free zone seven months ago by police, is the busiest drug peddling zone in Old Dhaka. Every day after sunset wholesale drug dealing takes place at the Babubazar intersection and the corridors of Laon and Star Cinema Complex buildings.
