Bangladeshi Prime Minister has started a noble war against drugs with the virtuous goal of saving millions of youths from drug addiction. Expressing her government's firm stance aganst drugs, Sheikh Hasina said, "We have contained militancy [radical Islamic militancy]. Now, we have taken an initiative to save the country from drug menace. You have noticed that drives against drugs have already started."

Meanwhile, during the past 12 days, more than 25 drug dealers have already been killed by the law enforcing agencies, including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) throughout the country. According to Police Head Quarters (PHQ) database,  there are 26,299 drug dealers and patrons in Bangladesh. A ruling party lawmaker, Abdur Rahman Bodi is known as an infamous and notorious drug mafia in the country. At least 950 leaders and lawmakers of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League are directly connected tp drug trade.

In the recent years, a type of pill-shaped drug named Yaba also known in some countries as Sabu, Ice Pill or Meth had already affected millions of people including youths - both male and female in Bangladesh.This drug is being produced in Myanmar [some of the Yaba production factories are controlled jointly by the Burmese army and unscrupulous traders or drug barons from India]. This Yaba trade already has turned into a multi billion dollar business. Only in Bangladesh, Yaba pills worth 1.5 billion taka US$ 200 million] are sold every month. From Myanmar, Yaba pills also are smuggled to various countries including China, the Philippines, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, east European and African countries.

Yaba pills have engulfed school children, college-university students, cultural activists, prisoners, prison guards [and officials] and even members of the law enforcing agencies. Even when the Prime Minister has strictly instructed showing zero tolerance towards drugs, a large number of policemen deployed at the court custody cells are seen openly supplying Yaba, cannabis etcetera to the prisoners. In the prisons, situation are even worst. According to newspaper reports, in Kashimpir Central Jail [part 1, 2, 3 and 4] Yaba is being sold to the prisoners inder direct patronozation of the prison authorities. On May 3, 2018 few hundred pieces of Yaba pills were recovered from a cell at Kashimpur Central Jail (Part-1). But this matter had been totally suppressed by the authorities. Earlier, the Senior Superintendent of the same jail, Subrata Kumar Bala and jailor Dewan Tarikul Islam had given unwritten licence to a drug trader named Ratan [also a listed top terrorist] against monthly payment of 45 thousand taka. By bribing these corrupt prison officials, Ratan had continued the drug trade for years. It was later learnt that the inspector general of prison and the deputy inspector general of prison too are under monthly payroll of the drug syndicates in the prisons in Bangladesh.

In the Philippines,  President Rodrigo Duterte has achieved remarkable success by continuing massive offenssives on drugs. He has been ignoring international outcry as well as criticisms from the United Nations. That is what a patriotica statesman should do for the cause of saving his/her nation from the evil clutches of drugs.

Sheikh Hasina's war against drugs must not be stopped at any wrong criticism or protest of any rights griups or even the United Nations. She needs to remember, drug readers are powerful - because they have money. They can use this ill-gotten money in buying the section of corrupt media, rights groups and even few key figures in the United Nations. Drug traders within Sheikh Hasina's own party and inner circle even may conspire something dangerous - even assassination plot. But, we sincerely believe and hope - Sheikh Hasina, being the daughter of the father of the nation, will ignore any such evil conspiracies. Her commitment to this nation and her simcerest dedication will ultimately make her the winner. God bless Sheikh Hasina!

The author is a freelance columnist writing on diversified issues in Bangladeshi and international newspapers.