Integrity of law enforcement agencies is crucial to control drugs

Drugs are a major tool of national destruction. They lead the youth of the country towards ruin. The use of drugs not only poses a health threat but also disrupts law and order. Various types of crimes increase in society. Therefore, to keep the country free from drugs, the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy.

After assuming state power, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned alcohol, gambling, housing, and horse racing through a government order on January 15, 1972. He also mentioned in Article 18(1) of the Constitution, "The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties, and in particular, the State shall adopt effective measures to prevent the consumption, except for medicinal purposes or for other purposes as may be prescribed by law, of alcoholic and other intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health."

Following in the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujib, the Awami League government has taken various practical and effective measures to protect the people of the country, especially the youth, from the scourge of drugs. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has modernized the Department of Narcotics Control, transforming it into a technology-driven institution. In this continuity, the Narcotics Control Act, 2018 was amended to formulate the Narcotics Control (Amendment) Act, 2020. Under this law, various rules and policies have been formulated. Construction of the department's own training academy in the Sadar Upazila of Kushtia district is ongoing.

However, it is unfortunate that the very law enforcement agencies responsible for controlling drugs are engaging in corruption and dishonesty. According to a report published in the newspaper yesterday (Sunday, July 7), several members of the Bogura District Detective Branch (DB) detained a drug dealer in a residential hotel in Mirpur, Dhaka, and extorted 780,000 taka before releasing him. This incident occurred on May 12 at a residential hotel in the Barobagh area of Mirpur-2.

If the members of law enforcement agencies themselves break the law, then enforcing that law becomes difficult. Multiple sources within the Bogura District Detective Branch (DB) have informed Prothom Alo that after the incident came to light, the DB police officers returned the entire amount of money extorted from the drug dealer. However, even one and a half months after the incident, no action has been taken against the involved police officers.

Even more concerning is that DB officials are calling the incident of extorting money from a drug dealer and then releasing him a "minor offense." If this is considered a minor offense, how will the Prime Minister's commitment be upheld? How will the dream of a drug-free Golden Bangladesh envisioned by Bangabandhu be realized?

We demand that the DB officials be held accountable for this serious crime and brought to justice. Otherwise, such offenses will only increase. Without the integrity and professionalism of law enforcement agencies, it is impossible to achieve a drug-free country.