In Bangladesh, starting from May 04, 2018, a massive antidrug operation is being carried out by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police following a declaration by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. By June 1, 2018, the security forces have killed at least 127 people in the incidents of so-called shootouts and arrested over 12,000 illegal drug dealers across the country [June 1, 2018, The Daily Star]. Addiction in illegal drugs have been a major concern for youth namely methamphetamine pills (known as “yaba”) and Phensedyl (codeine based cough syrup) that cross into Bangladesh from Myanmar and India respectively throughout the years under the auspices of the ruling elites and the corrupt law enforcing agencies.
Comment:
Rights activists, opposition political parties and general public expressed their concern in the mainstream as well as social media that the security forces are resorting to extrajudicial killings in this antinarcotics crackdown. The criticism and condemnation are rising high as the evidence of cold-blooded killings leaked out in the media (‘Death of Akramul: audio exposes moments of controversial anti-drug crackdown, source: bdnews24.com).
In Bangladesh, it is an open secret that the illegal drugs businesses by the regime-backed drugs syndicates have flourished under the auspices of the ruling elites and the corrupt security forces. If the government were truly sincere about eradicating drugs from the society, the entire law enforcement agencies, along with the political wings of the Awami League (AL) government, would have collapsed by now. So, for the general people it is now crystal clear that all these hue and cry about the antidrug drives are nothing but taking advantage of a problem to take control over politics and the black market ahead of the general election to be held by the end of this year.
There is no doubt that the problem of drugs has got to an alarming point in the society but the questions arise whether the so called ‘crackdown’ is the correct way forward or not. Many believe that killings will not solve the problem unless we diagnose the root cause to it and address the issue sincerely and comprehensively. Under the current secular-democratic political system that is responsible for building a generation of visionless, frustrated, drug-addicted youths, eradication of drugs is impossible, especially when the regime is corrupt and it has an active share in the drug dealings. The people of Bangladesh are desperately looking forward to the rightly-guided Khilafah (Caliphate) system which will put an end to this severe drug problem by upholding the values of Islam which will give our youths an enlighten vision and true purpose in life.
Mohammad Kamal
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Bangladesh