Yaba smuggler Mujibur Rahman, one of the younger brothers of former MP Abdur Rahman Badi, has been playing a key role in running a drug syndicate from Yangon, according to police.
Badi's, name appeared in intelligence reports of five government agencies that also listed several of his relatives and associates as drug dealers. Cox's Bazar-4 MP Abdur Rahman Bodi's name has popped up numerous times in connection with the drug syndicates.
Besides, report of Department of Narcotics Control mentioned family of former MP as a patron of Yaba trade in Ukhiya-Teknaf, the gateway of smuggling the crazy drug into the country.
Ruling party dropped Badi from contesting the last parliament elections. Meanwhile, lawmaker Shaheen Akhter, who is the wife of ex-MP Badi, was elected from Cox's Bazar-4 constituency. She firmly denied allegations that her husband was involved in the Yaba trade.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said last year there are allegations against Badi, but there is no evidence.
Mujibur Rahman, whose name is on the third position of the Home Ministry list of drug dealers, is still free. Locals and law enforcement sources say some 10 top listed godfathers are often found roaming in different areas of Teknaf.
Another Home Ministry listed are Zafar Ahmed, 65, chairman of Teknaf upazila, his son Md Shahjahan, 39, chairman of Teknaf Sadar union, Rafiq Uddin, 60, Teknaf upazila vice-chairman and Aziz Uddin, 53, Baharchhara Union Parishad chairman.
At least 102 top Yaba traders in Teknaf, Yaba smuggling continues under the supervision of some listed godfathers and hundi traders who recently launched credit sales of the pink pills.
A high official of the Cox's Bazar police told the daily Observer that 'a dozen Yaba dealers in Myanmar send Yaba shipments to Bangladesh on receiving orders from these godfathers."
Sources said Zafar got involved in Yaba business in early 2010. His elder son Mostaq Ahmed, another top Yaba dealer, went missing four years back and remains traceless.
Top Yaba smuggler Haji Saiful Karim, 46, has been killed in a reported gunfight with police in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar on May 31. After the killing of
Saiful, Mujibur Rahman has been playing a key role from Yangon in running the syndicate as the payment system is controlled mostly by him.
Before the reported gunfight with Saiful, the law enforcers said that he was bringing Yaba to Bangladesh concealed in imported items from Myanmar. He used to operate a Yaba selling syndicate all over the country.
As per the police report, Saiful's cohorts were also involved in the trade of illegal arms and ammunition.
After Saiful's death, many drug dealers have gone into hiding while brothers of Badi are thought to be hiding in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the Yaba traders still continue their trade disputed numerous anti-drug drives and so-called gunfights. The Yaba traders change their tricks and also change their routes. Law enforcers seize huge number of Yaba pills from different parts of the city every day.
Law enforcing agencies, including police, RAB, and BGB, started a nationwide anti-drug crackdown in May, in which the achievement of police force is commendable.
Law enforcement agencies have been reporting death of 'drug dealers' in 'crossfire' almost every day since the nationwide drive against drugs began in May following a directive by the government.
The government continues to show zero tolerance against drugs as it does against extremists. The ongoing drives against drug traders, smugglers and users would continue.
