File photo of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government was formulating an anti-narcotics law keeping a provision of death penalty for the patrons of drug traders, drug syndicates and the godfathers.

She was replying to a question from independent lawmaker M Rustam Ali Fazari during the prime minister's question-answer session in parliament.

The premier said the current law stipulates death penalty as the maximum punishment for drug criminals. But there is less scope to take punitive actions against those from whom drugs are not recovered. “So, the masterminds of the drug trade escape easily.”

She mentioned that the government was formulating a law, titled Narcotics Control Bill, 2018, aiming to take strong punitive measures against the patrons of drug trade, drug syndicates and the godfathers.

Hasina said under the new law the narcotics department officials would be empowered to investigate money laundering to bring the patrons of drug traders or trading organisations under the purview of the law.

The government has a plan to form a separate court to run the proceedings of cases under the Narcotics Control Act, 1990, she said.

The government always maintained a tough stance against drugs and drugs-related crimes, the PM said, adding that the law enforcement agencies took steps against drug smugglers, drug traders, druggies and drug smuggling syndicates to put up a strong resistance against the aggression of drugs in the society.

“Apart from the regular ones, special drives are being conducted against drug-related criminals,” she told the House.

Hasina said huge amount of drugs, arms and ammunition, and vehicles used to transport those have been recovered during the anti-drug drive since May 18.

“So far, 15,333 drug-related cases have been registered in which 20,767 accused people have been arrested and placed before courts.”

Replying to another question from Awami League lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, the PM expressed optimism that the government would be able to stop drug smuggling through the ongoing drive.

She said the government has adopted “zero tolerance” policy against drugs and narcotics control department, police, BGB, Rab and other law enforcement agencies were working relentlessly in this regard.

The leader of the House also said 106,536 cases were filed against 132,883 drug dealers in last year.

During January to March this year, some 35,112 people were arrested in 27,340 cases, the PM informed parliament.

The lists of Yaba traders have been updated to conduct regular drives against them, she said.