Ten lawyers serve legal notice over failure to curb drugs, demand action within 15 days

Ten lawyers have served a legal notice on the authorities concerned, alleging failure and inaction in taking effective steps to stop the illegal entry, trafficking, supply, abuse and growing spread of narcotics in the country.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir sent the legal notice on Sunday (8 November).

The notice says it has been sent with the aim of protecting public health, establishing the rule of law and implementing the state’s constitutionally recognised responsibilities.

It states that under Article 18(1) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, taking effective measures to improve public health and prevent the use of narcotics is one of the state’s foremost constitutional duties. Yet there are serious questions and concerns about the effectiveness of the existing system for preventing the illegal entry, spread and trafficking of narcotics in the country.

The notice presents several worrying facts and figures on the matter. Among them is the picture of delay in disposing of cases. Between January 2020 and April 2025, over five and a half years, only 13,136 of 122,422 recovery-related cases were disposed of — just 11 percent of the total. Of these, 56.36 percent of the accused were acquitted.

The notice says this situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the investigation, prosecution and judicial process in drug cases.

The notice also presents the picture of record seizures at the border. In 2025, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized more than 147 million yaba tablets in the border areas alone.

In addition, in a single operation on the Naf River in April 2026, 1,059,400 yaba tablets were seized in one day — the highest single-day seizure in BGB history. These figures indicate the scale of the illegal entry and supply of narcotics in the country.

The notice also speaks of the risk of international drug trafficking. Because of its geographical location, Bangladesh is at risk from international drug routes such as the “Golden Triangle”, the “Golden Crescent” and the “Golden Wedge”. There is also a fear that Bangladesh could be used as a transit route for cocaine trafficking to Europe and North America.

In this situation, the recipients of the notice have been asked to take certain specific steps within 15 days of receiving it.

These include identifying the weaknesses in the existing law and amending it, and establishing a permanent joint intelligence and coordination centre to ensure effective coordination and instant information exchange among the BGB, the Coast Guard, the police, RAB, customs and the Department of Narcotics Control.

It also calls for forming a specialised cyber monitoring unit — or strengthening the existing unit — to prevent the illegal trade and supply of narcotics through online platforms, social media and websites.

The notice also demands a time-bound and effective action plan to improve the quality of investigations in drug-related cases, determine the causes of the high acquittal rate and remove the delays in cases.

Alongside stepping up anti-drug public awareness activities, it also calls for the necessary initiatives for the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug addicts.

The notice further says that preventing the illegal entry and spread of narcotics is not only the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies; it is a state responsibility directly linked to the protection of public health, the safety of citizens and constitutional obligations. There is therefore no scope for the authorities concerned to remain inactive on this matter.

It says that if effective steps are not taken on the demands within the stipulated 15 days, legal remedies including filing a writ petition in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh in the public interest will be sought.