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Army should be deployed to stop drugs from entering Cox's Bazar

Published : Monday, 27 January, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 464
Dr Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed
Apocalyptic drugs are roaming at every level of our society. Human bone marrow is gnawed like a worm. The entire human race is about to be devoured like a python. The whole world, including Bangladesh, is worried about this terrible situation. Parents are scared and worried, wondering when their beloved children will lose direction in the flow of drugs and get trapped in the web of addiction. When they are beaten and intoxicated, sent to the pit of death, and swallowed by this epidemic, it becomes an even more pressing issue. Today, the whole nation, along with parents, is worried and scared to protect their children from this terrible situation.

The demand to give responsibility to the army to eradicate the drug empire of Teknaf, Ukhia, and Ramur Yaba in Cox's Bazar has sparked wide discussion. Talks are ongoing from the field level to the highest level of administration, even at the government's policy-making level, with a positive response everywhere. Conscious citizens argue that the army should be deployed across the three upazilas of Cox's Bazar, identified as the entrance to Yaba, and the operation should continue for months. They also called for declaring the military operation to protect a large number of teenagers, youth, and the general public from the terrible scourge of drug addiction as a "national duty program."

Persecuted journalist Faridul Mostafa of Cox's Bazar appealed for the start of an army operation to save the region from the curse of drugs. Since then, the issue has become the focus of discussion. As Faridul Mostafa identified Yaba as the curse of drugs, he also termed Yaba as the scourge of Cox's Bazar. He said this pink-colored pill, called Yaba, has destroyed Cox's Bazar. The entire area has been left behind, ravaging hundreds of years of progress and destroying the confidence of generations. The use of Cox's Bazar land to send billions of Yaba pills throughout the country is fueling the drug disaster. He said, "We, the people of Cox's Bazar, have been carrying that shame for years. The burden of this hatred is increasing day by day and becoming unbearable."

Faridul Mostafa, a journalist who has always taken a compromised role in the elimination of Yaba, was brutally abused by the Yaba Syndicate and survived several attempts on his life. He mentioned that the operations conducted under the leadership of OC Pradeep were merely a tactic to eliminate their opponent drug dealers while leaving the kingpins of the drug trade untouched. These drug lords, some of whom used the name of the ruling party, were never caught. The elite Yaba syndicate capitalized on a single incident in a massive coup to stop the RAB's acclaimed operation. Since then, the people of Cox's Bazar have been experiencing extreme frustration, as drug dealers have developed a separate empire, exerting control over society, the administration, and public representatives. In this blind empire of drug lords, the drug trade is untouchable and unchallenged.

There are currently 12 main types of drug consumption in the country, including heroin, marijuana, cholai alcohol, domestic alcohol, beer, rectified spirit, cadin, fencidil, pethidrin, TD jesic, vango, codin tablets, pharmant, fermented alcohol, Bonozesic injection (Buprenorphine), and more. In addition, some people are intoxicated by taking various sleeping pills, including inoctin, sidaxin, or painkillers. Research also shows that tobacco smoke contains numerous chemicals, some of which are considered drugs, particularly nicotine. Many drug users start by smoking, which leads to addiction to substances like marijuana, phencidyl, yaba, heroin, and cocaine.

The reasons for drug addiction include peer pressure, the availability of drugs, unemployment, social instability, ignorance about the risks of drug use, lack of religious and moral values in society, family disputes, medical drug addiction, and curiosity. Additionally, studies show that those who smoke are at a higher risk of becoming addicted to other drugs. A staggering 98 percent of drug addicts are smokers, and many start with cigarettes before progressing to more harmful substances.

Statistics from Bangladesh indicate that individuals aged 15 to 30 are most likely to become addicted to drugs, with around 84.27 percent of the population between 16 and 40 being affected. The youth aged 21-25 are at the highest risk, followed by 16-20 and 26-30-year-olds. Around 7.5 million people in Bangladesh are currently drug addicts, with a significant portion of the country's unemployed population also falling into this group. In terms of education, around 5 percent of drug addicts are educated, while 5 percent are illiterate. Approximately 5 percent of drug addicts are involved in sexual offenses, and another 5 percent are infected with the HIV virus. Furthermore, about 160,000 drug dealers operate across the country, with 27,300 being women.

Drug use can have devastating effects on mental health. Regular drug consumption negatively impacts a person's mood, judgment, self-control, and emotional stability. It leads to personal, family, social, and economic problems. People who are addicted to drugs suffer from a lack of self-control, even if they are aware of their wrongdoings. They become increasingly trapped in destructive behavior patterns, unable to free themselves. Drug users often experience anxiety, instability, and rapidly changing moods, which can make it difficult to focus on work or maintain healthy relationships. Their judgment is impaired, and they may struggle with making important decisions. The loss of pleasure in work and life becomes more pronounced as the addiction deepens, leading to reckless behaviors and dangerous activities.

Drug addiction is one of the most dangerous issues facing modern civilization. It destroys the lives of countless people, including successful professionals, scholars, and intellectuals. When one member of a family becomes addicted to drugs, it creates a devastating atmosphere, not only within the family but also within society. Drug problems extend beyond the family sphere and become a national issue. Therefore, law enforcement agencies must be made more active, efficient, and trained to prevent drug smuggling, particularly at the border. Bangladesh's location on key drug-smuggling routes makes this a crucial task. Proper enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs Control Act (1990) is essential to curbing drug abuse in the country.

Finally, the people of Cox's Bazar and the rest of the nation agree that the current situation is unsustainable. A permanent solution is urgently needed. They are calling for a non-stop military campaign focused on Cox's Bazar to address the drug issue. In this campaign, those who have successfully rehabilitated from drug addiction should be involved to help identify drug lords and leaders. This "national duty program" aims to restore hope and a drug-free future for the people of Cox's Bazar and the nation. Drug dealers and smugglers are the enemies of the country, and the entire society must join forces in resisting them. Public awareness and the creation of an anti-drug movement throughout the country are vital to building a healthy, drug-free society for future generations. Only by supporting those who suffer from addiction and providing them with proper treatment can we reintegrate them into society and guide the nation in the right direction.

The writer is founder and Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society


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