The consumption of different drugs is thought to be the result of ingrained habits in particular areas of the world, and so the problem is considered to be a domestic one. However, modern technology and the expansion of transportation and world trade introduced a new dimension.
A variety of new drugs have been developed and their consumption has increased enormously. The problem that was once considered local became global.
Drugs have been subject to international control since the international convention held in Shanghai, back in 1909. The conference, attended by 13 countries, set the foundation for the future of international drug policies by developing a prohibition regime that outlawed the recreational use of drugs (opium and morphine) while additionally regulating their medical use.
The UN took up the issue and exercised their powers relating to the worldwide control of narcotic drugs in accordance with a number of international treaties. The international control system is based on the cooperation of the states, that are bound by these treaties, in controlling the manufacture and sale of drugs within their jurisdiction.
The treaties stipulate that these states are bound to adopt appropriate legislation, introduce necessary administrative and enforcement measures, and cooperate with international control organs as well as with each other.
It provides the basis for the international community and the individual member states to effectively put in place the mechanisms to address the problem of drug production and trafficking, and use of illicit substances at different levels.
The Bangladesh government has ratified all the 3 major UN Conventions and has committed to fulfill the obligations of the following international treaties:
- The Convention on Narcotics drugs 1961 (as amended by the 1972 protocol)
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971
- The Convention against illicit trafficking of narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances, 1988
- Ratified the SAARC Convention on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, 1990
Bangladesh does not produce any heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine, methaqualone, PCP, LSD, MDA, MDMA, MDE, cocaine or any coca preparation, mescaline, or any other substances under the control of UN convention.
It does not produce any other precursor chemicals except small amounts of Sulfuric Acid and Hydrochloric Acid for industrial use, and does not export any precursor chemicals. There is a scope of diversion of precursor chemicals due to its proximity with the infamous Golden Triangle and the small quantities within Bangladesh.
These essential materials are imported from other countries. Bangladesh has established laws and rules in line with UN conventions to control and monitor import and use of drugs.
- The import rules and procedures that must be followed for the import of precursors have been made very strict:
- Importers need to obtain import license and import authorization from DNC
- Exporting countries send Pre-export Notifications
- No-Objection Certificates (NOC) is issued by DNC in response
- On arrival of the precursors, the stock and use are verified physically by the DNC
- DNC sends replies to Questionnaires of Biennial Reports to CND (Commission on Narcotic Drugs) regularly
- DNC sends statements to INCB regarding precursors as and when required.
The laws, rules, and administrative mechanisms provide monitoring measures to prevent diversion of the precursor chemicals from licit to illicit channels through the systems of licensing, inspection, verification, maintenance of accounts, and regular reporting systems.
Bangladesh actively exchanges mutual information on transactions, diversions, and trafficking with other countries. Bangladesh participates regularly in workshops, seminars, and symposiums for multilateral exchange -- sharing information on drugs and precursors -- and sends information on illicit trafficking and diversion to International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) regularly.
Bangladesh entered into a bilateral agreement with Myanmar for the suppression of illicit trafficking of drugs and precursors in 1994. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic Republic of Iran on drugs and precursor control in 1995.
Bangladesh has limited implementation of the law due to poor administrative capacity and corruption. Bangladesh needs detecting devices at the entry ports (airport, land port & seaport) to intercept diversion. It needs proper training of DNC personnel and law enforcing agencies on the identification and handling of precursor chemicals. The narcotics department needs automated information systems.
Bangladesh is located between the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent making it vulnerable as a transit for the trafficking of drugs. Drug traffickers find it comparatively easy to traffic their merchandise through the seacoast and waterways of the country.
It is widely believed in the global community that the law enforcement is very weak in Bangladesh and that it is easy to ship in and ship out any consignment and safely transit it to any other part of the world.
The Yaba tablets manufactured in Myanmar have a strong presence in Bangladesh and are brought into Bangladesh without much hassle. The use of Phensidyl and Yaba is rampant in Bangladesh. It is believed that some of the factories of Phensedyl and Yaba have been set up near the Bangladesh border to cater to the market in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has a large, porous border with India, where Phensedyl is produced in India and easily transported into Bangladesh. The smuggling, the diversion, and the abuse of pharmaceuticals originating from India is considered the single largest drug problem in Bangladesh. Commonly abused pharmaceuticals from there are Phensidyl (a codeine-based cough syrup), Tidigesic (buprenorphine), and pethidine injections.
In Bangladesh precursor chemicals are indispensable for research, science, technology, and industry. A range in the use of precursors is still limited and so diversion is unlikely. International, regional, and bilateral cooperation is of urgent need to prevent its diversion.
Governments of all the SAARC countries should come forward with cooperation for harmonizing the provisions of narcotics laws in line with the provisions of the UN Conventions and the SAARC Convention with the goal of working together.
The Narcotics Control Act, 1990, has some salient features reflecting the growing needs for effective counter strategies against drug smuggling on the one hand and corroborating, on the other, the international efforts to contain this problem.
Drug control is a cross border issue. In order to control the drugs nations need mutual assistance and cooperation. Multilateral cooperation for tracing, freezing, and forfeiting assets is required for precursor control.
Further cooperation in communication, sharing of information, networking, research, and training should be strengthened amongst global and regional nations.
Bangladesh desperately needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent the influx of drugs into its territory.
MS Siddiqui is a Non-Government Adviser, Bangladesh Competition Commission.
