Intl. Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking: 'Listen First' is the theme for 2018

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01:44

Rallies against drug abuse are being organized all over Bangladesh on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The government has announced a drive against drugs as 70 percent of youth are under the influence of yaba tablets, smuggled though the border from Myanmar. Mohammed Abdul got into it as a teenager and is struggling with its affects after six years.

MOHAMMED ABDUL STUDENT, COX'S BAZAR "Drug abuse was harmful for my mental and physical health. I lost my memory. Before I became an addict, I enjoyed the reputation of being a brilliant student, but after abusing drugs I became a burden on society."

It's a growing problem and drug dons manipulate the law for freedom.

RASHED SOCIAL ACTIVIST, COX'S BAZAR "The criminals misuse certain sections of the penal code to get free after they are arrested, and are back to business once out. That's why, despite taking various steps, we are still unable to fight the problem."

Law enforcement agencies are conducting raids on drug traffickers across the country for over a month now. About 130 people have been killed in the recent anti-drug operations and about 22,000 people have been detained after the launch of a nationwide anti-narcotic drive.

AFRUZUL HAQUE TUTUL ADDITIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, COX'S BAZAR "The drug dealers are in hiding and we are conducting raids everyday as we have zero tolerance for this drug. Each and every day we go for raids but they have left their homes and changed their addresses."

The law forcing agencies are confident of their drive against drugs, but concerns are being raised about action against low level drug peddlers, while the kingpins are still at large.