The Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-uz-Zaman, made a loud and clear declaration that the army is always by the people’s side and will remain so in any public interest or state necessity. Contact numbers for army camps have been provided for emergencies. People have been advised to inform the nearest army camp if urgent assistance is needed. This new hope and promise of a changing era has captured the public’s imagination.
Many are now keeping the list of army camp telephone numbers in their pockets. Trusting the army as a reliable refuge, they pass on information without revealing their identity. Swift action has yielded results almost like magic, while the informants’ identities remain confidential.
Recent case studies from the past few months reveal that most of these tips relate to drugs. The army has been conducting high-intensity operations. Raids are ongoing in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Cumilla, and other areas. Just last Wednesday, the army arrested seven drug dealers, including a woman, in a sudden operation near the capital’s airport railway station.
Behind this was a local person’s mobile message. The army promptly reached the scene, catching the seven red-handed and seizing a large quantity of cannabis and cash from drug sales.
For a long time, a well-organised gang had been running a drug trade near the airport railway station. They disguised themselves as passengers and supplied cannabis through women and teenagers. The police and the Department of Narcotics Control were aware of their misdeeds but had not been able to intervene effectively.
The drug trade continued through collusion and mutual understanding. Locals who reported the matter faced threats. Eventually, informing the army brought relief rather than trouble. The army has announced that such operations will be intensified to maintain peace and order, eliminate drugs, and ensure the safety of ordinary citizens. Locals say that theft, mugging, and various crimes had increased in the area due to drug dealers. The army’s sudden operations startled them and restored their confidence.
Just a couple of days ago, Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury candidly admitted, “We have not been able to control drugs and corruption.” He said more on the matter. While the government often claims that drug proliferation is decreasing, when asked if there is any data to support this, the adviser replied, “I have never claimed that. Law and order have improved, but I have never said that drugs have decreased.” He also expressed a willingness to address the issue. The army appears to share this understanding.
Amid elections, reforms, justice issues, and political-diplomatic turmoil, the drug trade is quietly increasing inside the country. Certain gangs have taken this as an opportunity. International drug syndicates have started using Bangladesh more than before as a transit point, with cocaine smuggling, especially via air routes, rising alarmingly. Many listed drug traffickers remain active in border areas and major cities. They employ petty criminals, day labourers, and rickshaw pullers to transport drugs. Phensedyl, cannabis, and heroin are smuggled through border areas of Kushtia, Chuadanga, Jessore, Satkhira, Panchagarh, and Dinajpur.
Following a recent meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, which acknowledged increased drug smuggling nationwide, the Police Headquarters instructed all district police chiefs to prepare new lists of drug traffickers.
They have been urged to intensify operations to destroy traffickers’ hideouts, identify new and old traffickers, and investigate pending drug cases. However, it is difficult to be overly optimistic about how far these efforts will go because drugs never reach users by themselves. Many intermediaries—some with close ties to traffickers and even police—fuel the spread.
Demand drives supply. Hence, the government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy on drugs is often undermined on the ground. At land and river borders, many do what they please. Even in airspace, some have been caught. As for the Department of Narcotics Control, everyone more or less knows what sort of control it exercises. Instead of suppression, it seems to regulate drugs on its own terms, involving large investments, appointments, and lucrative posts.
Behind all this runs another form of drug trade. There are some government and private institutions for drug rehabilitation, but their status remains uncertain. A certain fanfare was created about identifying addicts from constables to the Inspector General of Police. There is no talk of drug tests in other sectors. Within the police, there is dissatisfaction among non-cadre officers and members about ‘dope tests.’ This is a harsh reality. Another reality is that, despite not being a producing country, Bangladesh is geographically highly vulnerable to the all-consuming advance of drugs.
Recent political chaos, economic downturn with business and investment drought, and diplomatic tensions have distracted attention, allowing drug proliferation to worsen dramatically. Drug trade happens house-to-house in some localities. Occasionally, horrific incidents of parents or spouses killing addicted children or partners surface, resulting in days of public mourning.
But this time, the context is somewhat different—the army is on the ground, with magistracy powers. As part of a joint force, they are professionally trying to control law and order amidst the ongoing situation. Their raids in the capital and other parts of the country have been widely praised. Regular arrests include murder suspects, illegal arms carriers, top-listed terrorists, smugglers, juvenile gang members, kidnappers, robbers, and extortionists. Drug addicts are also caught. The current situation and reality make it an opportune time to deploy army personnel especially for drug control.
Government instructions on this matter are still unclear. Yet, the public has welcomed the army’s recent anti-drug operations. When the home affairs adviser acknowledged the failure to control drugs, a decisive step became highly desirable. A list has already been prepared. If the army is handed a copy or summary of old and new lists, this anti-drug campaign could mark a revolutionary chapter. The chance of failure is low. The decision to deploy the army with magistracy powers in the field is a groundbreaking move in the national context. Thanks to them, law and order is not only maintained, but measures to curb monstrous gang terror have also restored public confidence at all levels. The army’s action against the grim menace of drugs could change the situation.
In some countries, the military has played a vital role in controlling narcotics. Bangladesh is now at a golden moment to give the army clear directives and necessary support for this grave responsibility. Ordinary citizens, especially those worried about the widespread drug problem, are eagerly awaiting this.
The writer is a journalist and columnist; Deputy Head of News at Bangla Vision
