A special intelligence team with the help of law enforcers is preparing a list of 1300 suspected drug peddlers operating across the country.
The team will arrest them after verification, said a source in the team.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to take action against drug peddlers.
RAB and law enforcement agencies are going to launch a special anti-drug drive soon, said the source.
A high official of the Police Headquarters told The Daily Observer that several teams of law enforcers and RAB are currently working to stop drug peddling.
The special intelligence team has already prepared a list of drug peddlers operating in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna Chattogram, Sylhet and Barisal.
They have identified 241 masterminds in Chattogram Division. Among them, 32 are in Brahmanbaria, 71 in Feni, six in Lakshmipur, 51 in Comilla, 32 in Chandpur, 107 in Cox's Bazar, 32 in Noakhali and the rest are from Chattogram.
A total of 170 drug peddlers from Rajshahi Division are on the list. Of them 11 in Pabna, 15 in Sirajganj and Bogra each, seven in Natore, 16 in Joypurhat, 18 in Chapainawabganj and the rest are from Rajshahi.
The number of drug ring leaders in Khulna Division is 101. Among them, eight are in Jessore, 13 in Jhenaidah, seven in Norail, five in Kushtia, seven in Bagerhat and the rest are in Khulna.
Of 182 drug peddlers from Rangpur Division five are in Kurigram, seven in Gaibandha, seven in Dinajpur, seven in Thakurgaon, five in Lalmonirhat, six in Nilphamari and the rest are in Rangpur district.
The Dhaka Division tops the list with 298 drug peddlers. Of them, four are in Manikganj, seven in Mymensing, six in Narayanganj, 14 in Netrokona, seven in Sherpur, six in Jamalpur, nine in Tangail, nine in Gazipur and five in Narshingdi and the rest in Dhaka district.
So far 156 masterminds have been identified in Barisal Division. Among them, eight are in Jhalokathi, five in Pirojpur, four in Patuakhali and 15 in Bhola and the rest in Barisal district.
The Sylhet Division has 123 peddlers - 18 in Moulvibazar, 13 in Habiganj, 17 in Sunamganj and the remainder in Barisal district.
At least 10 drug peddlers were killed after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the law enforcers to take action against drug peddlers over the last 10 days.
Meanwhile, a suspected drug peddler was killed in what RAB claimed to be a gunfight in Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj on Friday.
Tipped-off, a team of RAB-5 from Chapainawabganj camp started an anti-drug drive in Tantipara Ghat area in the upazila around 2:00am, he said.
Sensing presence of RAB personnel, the criminals opened fire on them that prompted a 'gunfight', the RAB official also said.
After the gunfight ended, a suspect was found with bullet injuries. He was taken to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead, Abul Khayer further said.
Two pistols, two magazines, five rounds of bullets and six and half kilogrammes of hemp were recovered from the spot.
Two men were killed in a gunfight with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) during an anti-drug drive at Madarbari Barishal Colony in Chattogram on Thursday night.
ASP Mimtanur Rahman of RAB-7 said a team of the elite force conducted a special drive at the colony, which is popularly known as a drug den, around 11.30pm.
Sensing the presence of RAB members, the criminals opened fire on them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, leaving two people belonging to the narcotics ring, as described by ASP Mimtanur, dead on the spot,
Home Ministry officials sent a list of drug peddlers to Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of different bordering points of the country.
Bangladesh does not produce any illegal drug but prevention of drug smuggling through border has emerged as a challenge for the country.
Yaba pills are being manufactured in at least 40 factories near the Myanmar border.
The Home Minister sent the list to the DCs of Satkhira, Joypurhat, Jamalpur, Chapai Nawabgan, Gaibandha, Jessorer, Cox's Bazar, Chaugachha, Khagrachhari and Rangamati, Dinajpur, Habiganj, Moulavibazar and Sylhet
Department of Narcotics Control, police, RAB, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard are conducting their own operations to curb drug smuggling in the country.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan recently said the government would be very tough to put an end to drug smuggling through different bordering points of the country.
