Badiuzzaman Rajababu
Chapainawabganj Correspondent
Local residents, political party leaders, local police administration and the Narcotics Control Department all know who the godfathers of drugs are in Chapainawabganj. There are several drug cases against them. The administration also has their home addresses. But they are out of reach.
It has been alleged that politicians make the work of the drug recovery agency difficult by providing shelter to the dealers. Those who had been patronized by Awami League leaders and MPs until now are now under the umbrella of BNP leaders.
The locals question, why are the drug dealers not being caught even after they have been identified? How is the spread of drugs in the area even though the administration knows everything? Who is giving them shelter? The drug recovery agency and intelligence information say that Md. Nurul Islam and Md. Jewel Rana control the drug trade in the border area of Chapainawabganj. Both are members of Charbagdanga Union Parishad. They bring heroin and yaba to Bangladesh from neighboring India. Their helpers sell it in different parts of the country.
Nurul-Jewel is known as a drug kingpin in the area. They have a strong network in both India and Bangladesh. Although the two godfathers of drugs have been in the public eye for a long time, they are currently absconding in two explosive law cases related to the conflict over dominance. The police are looking for them.
According to the statistics of previous cases, Nurul Islam is the accused in 3 drug cases. Jewel Rana also has four cases against him. According to information received from the Narcotics Control Department, a section of the residents of Charbagdanga, a union on the Padma River bordering India, are involved in the drug trade. The leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations there are involved in the drug trade. Public representatives are also involved in the drug syndicate. Some give money, some change hands, some are directly involved and somehow help in passing these consignments. Even after the change of government, the drug trade in that area is still in their hands.
Locals said that one of the godfathers of the drug syndicate is Nurul Islam, the president of the Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila Tanti League. His entire family is involved in drugs. Nurul, his brother-nephew and Jewel Member and his family have become banana trees by trading drugs. They have several flats, plots and houses in various elite areas including Chapainawabganj-Dhaka under their names and identities. So far, Nurul-Jewel have been running the drug syndicate using the power of the Awami League. Both of them ran the drug trade under the umbrella of former Awami League MP Abdul Odud. Now they are on the BNP platform. As a result, they are continuing the drug trade with courage even after the change of power.
Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila BNP convener Md. Aminul Islam said that the spread of drugs in Charbagdanga Union is very high. This union has been tarnished by drug dealers. No one dares to protest because the public representatives are involved in drug dealing. We all know who is involved in drug dealing. The police also know this. Still, they are out of reach.
Chapainawabganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) ANM Wasim Firoz said, "We have always had a zero tolerance stance against drugs. Our efforts to recover drugs and arrest drug dealers are ongoing. All police units are active in recovering drugs. We hope that we will be able to bring drug dealers under the law very soon."
