Drug addicts rise alarmingly at RU

RAJSHAHI, Aug 15: The campus of Rajshahi University (RU) has turned into a safe haven for drug addicts and drug peddlers.
Drug abuse and its trade have increased alarmingly in recent time. The students of the university including female students are taking drugs like marijuana, yaba pills, phensedyl and even heroin. After evening, students and outsiders come to different spots on the campus to take drugs.    
The drug dealers, mostly from neighbouring areas, openly do drugs business on the campus and supply drugs to the students of the university because there is no restriction on the people entering the campus, concerned sources said.
During a recent visit after evening, this correspondent found that drug addicts come to the campus for taking drug safely. The most used areas are University Sabas Bangladesh field, Binodpur gate adjacent to the IBS building,  Ameer Hall's south-east corner, East side of Nawab Abdul Latif Hall, Shah Makhdum Hall's south-east corner, Shahid Shamsuzzoha Hall's east side road, railway station near the University of Suhrawardy Hall, the empty space  between Madar Baksh and  Ziaur Hamana Hall, the fields adjacent to Faculty of Agriculture, tutabagana area behind the third science building,  the science building, the stall behind the science building on the west side, back side of Shahid Ranjan Samaddar Teacher-Student Cultural Centre, Shiraji and Rabindra Arts Building roof, Rokea Hall's west side, the old folklore Chattar, Juberi southern corner of the field, on the east corner of the administration building, BNCC field and even different residential halls roof. These places have become haven for the drug addicts.
Besides, there are many stalls where drugs are being sold openly including Station Bazaar, Kazla Gate and some others places near the university campus, filed sources said.    
While talking to The Daily Observer, some students of different residential halls said that illegal drugs including phensedyl, heroin, marijuana as well as fermented alcohol and rectified spirits are openly sold at the spots stated above. A large number of outsiders are engaged in the drug business.
Besides, during the summer vacation, the deserted campus turns into a safe haven for drug addicts, and a large number of students also join them.  As a result, the snatching and extortion incidents on the campus rise, they added.
Not only the male students but also many female students are involved in taking drug. At first, they take drug from hobby and after some days they become drug addicts. Now-a-days, they are taking drugs like yaba pills, marijuana and even heroin, said a female student of Rahamatunnssa Hall of the university.
Expressing concern over the situation, many teachers and officers of the RU have asked authorities and law enforcers to take steps and put a stop to the ongoing drug trade and abuse on the campus.
RU Proctor Prof Dr. Lutfor said that he has taken duty recently. He has a plan to control illegal drug peddling and its abuse inside the university. "We want to make our campus drug free. The administration should take necessary steps if anyone is found taking or selling drugs on the campus," the he added.