The public have expressed mixed reactions over the expected surrender of a number of yaba traders in Cox’s Bazar.
More than 150 yaba traders are due to officially surrender in the presence of the Home Minister at Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, reportedly sometime in February. At least 30 of the traders expected to surrender are notorious godfathers who have long been fugitives.
While some have praised the surrender as a positive step towards freeing the country from the grip of yaba, others criticize it as an eye-wash and call for strict punishment of the traders.
The views of the public
Cox’s Bazar Bachao campaign General Secretary Advocate Md Ayasur Rahman said: “The surrender of Yaba traders is a positive step. If yaba traders are not brought under the law, then it will never be possible to stop drug trafficking and our youths will be destroyed. This type of initiative [the surrender] should have been taken long ago.”
“However, the yaba dealers who are about to surrender should be brought under law and their illegal wealth needs to be accounted for. I am also demanding quick and effective steps against traders who will not surrender,” he added.
On the other hand, Cox’s Bazar cultural organizer Deepok Sharma Dipu said: “A group of influential people created the opportunity for the yaba traders to surrender like this when they saw small businessmen and traffickers being murdered one after another in gunfights during the anti-drug campaign.
“What was the fault of these small dealers? Was it not possible to bring these [deceased] dealers on the surrender list? I am calling for the punishment of the godfathers under the law, and a stop to this surrender drama.”
Teknaf Government College Principal Sheikh Joynal Abedin said: “A class of people are benefitting themselves and harming the nation through the yaba business. It is undoubtedly a positive step that the yaba dealers realized the illegality of the business by themselves and came to surrender, being respectful towards the law. The huge amount of illegal money made by these traders should be annulled and taken to the government treasury.”
Yaba traders happy to surrender
Meanwhile, although yaba traders who are set to surrender could not be contacted, some of their family members told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity that the traders are happy to leave the drug business behind and return to a normal life. A number of yaba traders who had fled to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai had returned to Bangladesh with the aim of surrendering.
After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her zero tolerance policy for drugs in May 2018, law enforcement agencies began a nationwide anti-drug campaign and the Ministry of Home Affairs identified and listed 1,152 people suspected to be involved in the yaba business. Among them, 912 traders were based in Teknaf, with the area unofficially known as Bangladesh’s yaba gateway.
Many of the suspected yaba traders fled the country, as reports of deaths during anti-drug drives grew following the prime minister’s announcement.
When contacted and asked whether all the suspected yaba traders on the Ministry of Home Affairs list should surrender, Teknaf Upazila Awami League President and former MP Prof Mohammad Ali said: “All the people named in the list aren’t necessarily criminals. Many people were named in the list due to politically motivated accusations. For example, my two sons were named in the list to harass them. Does that mean they are yaba traders?”
“Being named in the list does not prove involvement in the yaba trade. I disagree with the notion that everyone listed should surrender, even if they have not committed a crime. Listed or not, the real yaba traders need to be punished,” he added.
When is the surrender?
Although the yaba traders’ surrender is expected to take place in early February, adequate preparations by law enforcement agencies are yet to be taken as the date has not been confirmed.
Cox’s Bazar Additional Police Superintendent Md Iqbal Hossain said: “The date and time for the surrender of the yaba traders has not been fixed yet. There is a possibility that the surrender ceremony will be held in the first week of next month, depending on the orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
According to a reliable source, the surrender is being widely discussed at the Prime Minister’s Office. Most policymakers perceive it to be a positive step, but many are also taking it negatively. As a result, there is a chance that a surrender ceremony may not be organized.
PM: Those willing to return to normal life will be given support
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged Home Ministry officials to work towards uprooting corruption, drugs and militancy.
During a visit to Home Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat, she also said criminals who want to return to a normal life will be given support.
In addition to the surrender of 150 yaba traders expected in February, the government has taken steps for the rehabilitation of pirates in the Sundarbans, as correction and rehabilitation are important for encouraging criminals to lead a better life, the prime minister said.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and secretary of the Home Ministry Mostafa Kamal Uddin could not be reached for comment.
