Illegal drugs are being sold openly in several parts of Bangladesh's capital, with dealers now operating in public spaces instead of relying solely on hidden distribution points, according to a field investigation by The Daily Observer.
The investigation found that drug peddlers in some areas are openly approaching pedestrians and motorists, offering cannabis and yaba in broad daylight. Residents, traders, health professionals and law enforcement officials say the growing visibility of drug trafficking reflects an increasingly worrying situation in the capital.
Government officials and researchers estimate that around 8 to 8.5 million people in Bangladesh are affected by drug addiction in some form, although no recent nationwide survey has been published. Experts believe Dhaka remains the country's largest market for illicit drugs.
Over several days, The Daily Observer visited the railway corridor stretching from the Karwan Bazar Fish Market crossing to Nakhalpara Railway Station. Reporters observed individuals openly calling out to passers-by and motorists, asking whether they wanted to buy cannabis or yaba.
Several alleged street-level dealers, who identified themselves only by their first names, claimed they worked for larger suppliers rather than operating independently. They said they received a small daily cash payment along with drugs as compensation. However, The Daily Observer could not independently verify these claims.
The individuals interviewed also claimed that around 20 to 25 street-level dealers are active along the railway line, each assisted by several sellers. The identities of the alleged wholesalers or supply network could not be confirmed.
Asadul Haque, a fish trader at Karwan Bazar, said drug dealing had become a common sight in the area.
It is no longer just drug selling; it resembles an open marketplace. Dealers can be seen every short distance along the railway line, creating concern among traders and local residents, he said.
A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, acknowledged that the pattern of drug trafficking had changed.
In the past, operations were largely intelligence-based because dealers worked secretly. Now, in some places, they are selling drugs openly in front of the public, he said.
Similar allegations have emerged from Basabo, where resident Bachhir Ahmed claimed that drugs are sold openly around the Balur Math area during the evening.
The smell of drugs becomes so strong at times that it is difficult to remain in the area, he said.
Drug rehabilitation centres also report an increase in patients.
Officials at a rehabilitation centre in the Sipahibagh-Meradia area of Khilgaon said that while they previously received around ten patients from several neighbourhoods combined, they now receive ten to twelve patients from a single locality, with yaba addiction accounting for most new cases.
Several patients undergoing treatment claimed that drugs are now often delivered after orders are placed over mobile phones, eliminating the need to visit traditional drug-selling locations. The Daily Observer was unable to independently verify these claims.
