The national initiative to solve drug addiction problem in Bangladesh is far less than its severity. A large number of people across the country are victims of terrible addiction. A police investigation has recently revealed a new type of deadly drugs in the recent death incident of Dhaka University student Hafizur Rahman. The law enforcement agency said the investigation uncovered a new type of drug called LSD (lysergic acid diethalamide).
According to health experts, LSD is one of the most potent, mood-changing chemicals. It is manufactured from lysergic acid found in the ergot fungus. It is produced in crystal form in illegal laboratories, mainly in the United States. These crystals are converted to a liquid for distribution. It is odourless, colourless, and has a slightly bitter taste. Known as “acid” and by many other names, LSD is sold in small tablets (“microdots”), capsules or gelatin squares (“window panes”). Occasionally, it is sold in liquid form. But no matter what form it comes in, LSD leads the user to the same place—a serious disconnection from reality. LSD users call an LSD experience a “trip,” typically lasting twelve hours or so. When things go wrong, which often happens, it is called a “bad trip,” another name for a living hell.
The body of Hafizur Rahman, a student of Information Science and Library Management Department of Dhaka University, was recovered from behind the central Shaheed Minar on May 15. According to eyewitness accounts, Hafiz himself cut his throat with the sickle of a coconut seller. He was expressionless even after cutting his own throat. A video of the horrific incident has gone viral online. However, it gives a negative message as the people around him did not come forward at that time to stop him. Earlier, we saw family members and pedestrians were attacked by drug addicts, but this (slitting own throat) is the first case of death. The fact that LSD has been identified in the police investigation is an example of how deadly its effects can be. A group has been opened on Facebook to sell LSD. The drug was collected from the Netherlands by contacting through a mobile phone app, police said. They were transacting money digitally to import drugs from abroad. From this, it is understood that the criminals were continuing their crime with the help of technology.
The news about the spread of yaba in the country has been widely discussed in recent years. The government launched an anti-drug campaign to prevent yaba from entering the country. The government’s anti-drug campaign, without a few controversial incidents, was widely lauded. The maritime borders of neighbouring India and Myanmar were closely monitored to stop the yaba smuggling. It was later learned that a yaba factory had been set up in Chattogram. The news of yaba production in the country caused a stir at that time. Now that the new drug LSD is being talked about is more expensive than any conventional drug. Its effects are also relatively long lasting. It has entered the country from abroad. It is now the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to find out how much LSD has spread in the country.
We also need to be vigilant so that no new drugs can enter the country in the future. The border needs to be hundred per cent protected. One or more powerful rings work behind the smuggling of drugs and their distribution inside the country. These vicious cycles must be identified and broken. There are allegations that some influential political leaders, officials from the Department of Narcotics Control, members of the law enforcement agencies, and professional criminals are among those involved in the illegal drug trade. Lasting benefits cannot be expected by launching a campaign against retailers without touching the identified ‘drug lords’ or the big fish of the drug business world.
There is no doubt that drug addiction is one of the most serious national problems in Bangladesh. But, there are doubts about the sincerity of the government efforts to free the nation from this problem.
