Women’s involvement in illegal drug trading on the rise in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Oct 30: The involvement of women in illegal drug trade at nine upazilas of the district is increasing day by day as more and more women are being held by different law-enforcing agencies at different times. Even the members of a family are also being found to be involved in this illegal trade, said police.
While talking with journalists, members of the law-enforcing agencies said that the number of anti-drug raids is increasing at different areas of the district. Recently, a huge quantity of different drugs including heroin, phensedyl, marijuana, yaba pills and local wine have been recovered from different upazilas including the district town.
According to sources at Rajpara Police Station, a total of 215 anti-drug cases were filed with the police station over the last three months. Of those, 155 cases were filed by Rajpara police and the rest 60 cases by Detective Branch (DB) of police.
On September 27 last, Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 arrested Sabina Begum, 30, of Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali district along with 1,500 pieces of yaba tablets from Bus Stand area under Puthia upazila of Rajshahi district.
Police in a drive arrested an alleged woman drug peddler Jamela Begum, 45, wife of Hasan Ali along with contraband 52 kg of marijuana tree worth about Tk 1.60 lakh from her house at Dalimpara area under Charghat upazila of the district on September 17 last.
RAB-5 members, in a drive, arrested another alleged woman drug peddler Merina Khatun, wife of Razzak Hossain under Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj district with one kilogram of heroin from Rajshahi Railway Station area on September 7 last.
An official of the District Drug Control Department Lutfar Rahman said, the participation of women in drug business has increased than before as the members of different law enforcement agencies are detaining more and more women along with contraband drugs.    
In this connection, Professor of Sociology Department at Rajshahi University Nilufar Yasmin said, "Women can conduct drug business avoiding the eyes of law enforcers. Besides, they are coming into this illegal trade mainly for poverty. Moreover, if the husband is involved in drug peddling, other family members also engage themselves in this trade."