RAB raids rehab centre in Gazipur, rescues healthy people
RAB also found 420 pieces of yaba
RAB raided Bhawal Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Gazipur on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, after allegation of irregularirties, torture and sexual harrassment of patients surfaced against the institution Dhaka Tribune
Raihanul Islam Akand
Publish : 04 Jan 2022, 10:50 PMUpdate : 04 Jan 2022, 10:50 PM
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has raided a drug rehabilitation centre in Gazipur after receiving tip-offs of widespread irregularities, torture of patients and illegally imprisoning healthy individuals within the institution.
The elite force raided Bhawal Drug Rehabilitation on Tuesday, finding proof of the alleged irregularities there. It arrested the owner along with five employees.
“We also found 420 pieces of methamphetamine-based yaba tablets from the centre,” RAB spokesperson Khandaker Al Moin said during a media call.
Allegations of physically and mentally torturing patients as well as sexually harassing them had also surfaced, he said.
He added that that RAB had also found proof of patients being hung and tortured.
According to RAB the rehab centre did not meet any of the Narcotics Control Department criteria either.
Not only were the patients given sub-standard food, there was no doctor present even though there is supposed to be one at all times.
“We have arrested five of the employees along with the owner for questioning,” Moin said, adding that RAB had also found proof that the owners were also drug addicts.
The rehab centre started operating in 2009 without any narcotics department clearance and only showed necessary facilities during visits which were later removed, the senior RAB official said.
Healthy individuals who had no history of drug addiction were also held there against their will, he added.
They were also beaten up and seven people who had bruises on their bodies had been sent for treatment, he said.
Allegations of threatening those wanting to speak out about bodily harm had also surfaced, RAB said.
Not only were the patients tortured, the centre did not follow through on providing their medical test results every 28 days and three months.
The Narcotics Control Department has suspended the operations of the centre and its victims and patients have been handed over to their relatives.
RAB said it had also found an actor, who was not a drug addict, held there.
“He has been sent for medical tests. We will know more about why has been there later,” said Moin.
RAB raids rehab centre in Gazipur, rescues healthy people
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has raided a drug rehabilitation centre in Gazipur after receiving tip-offs of widespread irregularities, torture of patients and illegally imprisoning healthy individuals within the institution.
The elite force raided Bhawal Drug Rehabilitation on Tuesday, finding proof of the alleged irregularities there. It arrested the owner along with five employees.
“We also found 420 pieces of methamphetamine-based yaba tablets from the centre,” RAB spokesperson Khandaker Al Moin said during a media call.
Allegations of physically and mentally torturing patients as well as sexually harassing them had also surfaced, he said.
He added that that RAB had also found proof of patients being hung and tortured.
According to RAB the rehab centre did not meet any of the Narcotics Control Department criteria either.
Not only were the patients given sub-standard food, there was no doctor present even though there is supposed to be one at all times.
“We have arrested five of the employees along with the owner for questioning,” Moin said, adding that RAB had also found proof that the owners were also drug addicts.
The rehab centre started operating in 2009 without any narcotics department clearance and only showed necessary facilities during visits which were later removed, the senior RAB official said.
Healthy individuals who had no history of drug addiction were also held there against their will, he added.
They were also beaten up and seven people who had bruises on their bodies had been sent for treatment, he said.
Allegations of threatening those wanting to speak out about bodily harm had also surfaced, RAB said.
Not only were the patients tortured, the centre did not follow through on providing their medical test results every 28 days and three months.
The Narcotics Control Department has suspended the operations of the centre and its victims and patients have been handed over to their relatives.
RAB said it had also found an actor, who was not a drug addict, held there.
“He has been sent for medical tests. We will know more about why has been there later,” said Moin.