Railway police chief calls for a central database to control drugs, saying raids alone will not bring results

Barrister Md Zillur Rahman, chief of Bangladesh Railway Police and Additional IGP (in charge), has said the desired results in drug control cannot be achieved only by conducting raids or arresting carriers and retail sellers. An integrated central database must be created to bring the main suppliers of drugs, their financiers and the influential rings behind the scenes under the law, and to identify criminals quickly, he said.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (3 November) as chief guest at a policy dialogue titled 'Policy Dialogue on a Drug Free Bangladesh: Challenges and Action', organised by the Dhaka International University Journalists' Association with the cooperation of Dhaka International University.

Barrister Md Zillur Rahman said awareness must be raised in educational institutions and treatment and rehabilitation for drug addicts must be ensured. A coordinated initiative by the state, the administration, educational institutions, families and the media is needed for this, he said.

He also said drug traffickers use various means of transport to expand their networks. Railways too can become an important route for them to move drugs. The vast rail network, the movement of huge numbers of passengers every day and people's free movement at various stations make surveillance a big challenge. They are tackling the matter with their best efforts, he said.

At the event, Dhaka International University vice-chancellor Dr Md Zahidul Islam said a university is not only an institution for awarding degrees, but also a place for building students' morality and sense of social responsibility. Regular awareness activities, counselling and mental health services need to be introduced at university level to prevent drug abuse, he said.

Dr Md Zahidul Islam also said that if a student becomes involved with drugs, instead of thinking only of bringing them under punishment, the reason why they are turning to drugs must be identified. Communication between teachers, students and parents must be increased, and the university administration must play an effective role in stopping drug buying and selling on campus and in its surroundings.

Harun Jamil, executive editor of Dhaka Mail, said the media's responsible role is extremely important in publishing news about drugs. Presenting an addicted person only as a criminal makes their path to social rehabilitation harder. Drug addiction is a treatable problem, so news must be presented distinguishing between drug traffickers and addicted persons, he said.

Security and political analyst Colonel (retd) Kazi Sharif Uddin said increasing intelligence capability alongside law enforcement is extremely important in drug control. If there are allegations of involvement by influential quarters in the drug trade, they must be investigated impartially. The spread of drugs cannot be stopped only by raiding visible criminals; the economic and organisational structure of drug supply must be broken, he said.

Colonel (retd) Kazi Sharif Uddin also said information exchange among law enforcement agencies, the administration and intelligence agencies must be increased for drug control. At the same time, it must be ensured that no one can stay outside the law because of a political or administrative identity.

Jaber Md Soaib, additional district magistrate at the Dhaka deputy commissioner's office, said that although the district administration conducts regular raids for drug control, raids alone cannot bring a long-term solution. Alongside raids, the sources of drugs, the supply system and the persons involved must be identified. Ordinary people often fear giving information against drug traffickers, because they worry about their safety after complaining. In this regard, keeping complainants' identities secret, ensuring their safety and taking informants into confidence are essential. Considering this, the Dhaka district administration has created a citizen service platform called 'Hello DC', he said.

Dr S M Kabir Jewel, chief consultant of the psychiatry department at the capital's Continental Hospital, said treatment with medicine alone cannot bring an addicted person back to a healthy life. Counselling, family cooperation and long-term psychosocial treatment are also needed. In treating addiction, the family must be involved alongside the patient. The risk of becoming involved with drugs again remains even after treatment ends, so regular follow-up, mental health services and social rehabilitation arrangements are essential, he said.