HC directs govt to stop narcotics influx

The High Court today directed the government to take effective steps to prevent illegal influx of narcotics including Yaba, cannabis and Phensidyl across the country particularly in bordering districts--Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban through conducting inquiry.

Issuing a suomoto (voluntary) rule, the court ordered the home secretary and inspector general of police to instruct the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all the districts to launch special drive against all kinds of illegal carrying and having such drugs.

The HC also asked the chief of the police bureau of investigation to submit a report to this effect before this court within a month and fixed March 1 for passing further order on this issue.

In the rule, the court asked the respondents to explain in four weeks why their inaction to stop incursion of yaba and other narcotics, their carrying and illegal marketing in the country should not be declared illegal.

Home secretary, IGP, director generals of Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard, PBI chief, DCs and SPs of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, upazilanirbahi officer of Teknafin Cox’s Bazar and officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice MohammadUllah came up with the directive and rule following a report published on the daily ProthomAlotoday under the headline “YabarGrameKotipotiBasinda (millionaire resident at Yaba’s village).

The main centre of Yaba business is Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar from where the devastating narcotics are spreadingacross the country, according to the report.