Drug Dealers Have No Right to Engage in Politics: Ishraque
Member of Parliament Engineer Ishraque Hossain has declared an uncompromising stance against the drug trade, asserting that political patronage and the involvement of certain law enforcement personnel actively sustain illicit networks. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled ‘Challenges and Solutions in Narcotics Control’ organized by Debate for Democracy at the CIRDAP Auditorium on Friday, November 6, he emphasized that individuals linked to drug trafficking have no right to engage in politics. He called for unmasking all figures who use political shields for illegal drug operations, affirming that his war against narcotics will continue unabated regardless of political affiliations.
In his address, Ishraque Hossain highlighted how vested interest groups exploit ruling party identities to run drug operations, switching political allegiance whenever power changes hands. He insisted that using political status to shield criminal enterprises must end, urging that any political ties to the drug trade be exposed and prosecuted immediately. The MP further noted that narcotics enter the country through border regions via complex tactics, alleging that several prominent transport companies and questionable pharmaceutical firms are involved in distribution. He cautioned that drugs fuel horrific crimes, citing the tragic murders of child Ramisa and the widely discussed Oyshee case as stark reminders of society’s peril.
Presenting the keynote paper, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran stated that the easy availability of narcotics, ranging from cannabis and Yaba to expensive synthetic drugs, remains the primary reason behind their epidemic spread from urban centers to rural villages. He pointed out that modern trafficking channels even deliver drugs directly to doorsteps through online orders and hidden transportation methods, such as carrying contraband inside stomachs or mobile battery compartments. Mr. Kiran reiterated that while authorities frequently arrest small-scale couriers and consumers, the masterminds remain largely untouched. He urged the government to strictly enforce its zero-tolerance policy so no trafficker can take advantage of political cover.
The seminar brought together key experts and civic leaders who emphasized that narcotics control extends beyond government and law enforcement and requires broad social resistance. Department of Narcotics Control Director General Md. Hasan Maruf and psychiatry expert Professor Dr. M. A. Mohit Kamal addressed the gathering alongside media and academic representatives, including Ekattor Television News Head Shah Azizur Rahman Kiran. Supported by the State University of Bangladesh Debating Society and the Eden Mohila College Debating Club under the slogan ‘Say No to Drugs, Build a Drug-Free Bangladesh,’ the event concluded with a call for coordinated societal and policy initiatives to dismantle drug networks completely.
