102 drug peddlers surrender to cops in Cox’s Bazar

102 drug peddlers surrender to cops in Cox’s Bazar

In a bid to return to normal life, 102 drug peddlers today surrendered to police in presence of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar.

They surrendered at a programme held at Teknaf Pilot High School ground organised by Cox’s Bazar district police at 10:30am, reports our local correspondent.
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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was present as the chief guest of the programme while Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Patwary was the main speaker.

Superintendent of Cox’s Bazar Police AKM Masud Hossain in his welcome speech said a total of 1,461 cases have been filed against the drug peddlers in the district since May last year and 1,583 persons were arrested in the cases.

Also, 53 persons were killed in gunfights with police and with rival groups, he also said.

The assets of those who surrendered today will be brought to the book, the SP added.

They will “not receive any general amnesty” but will have to face legal action as per the law, police sources earlier said.

The formal surrender came after a massive anti-narco crackdown since May last year.

Lawmakers of the four constituencies in the district -- Shahin Aktar Chowdhury, Jafar Alam, Ashek Ullah Rafiq, and Saimum Sarwar Komol -- were also present at the programme.

Police have been making announcements in various areas of Teknaf for the last four days and asking locals to join it.

‘I regret my past activities’

“I was living my life in the wrong path. I regret for my past activities. Those of us who surrendered today want your blessings so that we would be able to live a better life and work for building a drug-free society,” said Sirajul Islam, one of the drug peddlers who surrendered today.

Enamul Haq Member, another drug peddler with 12 cases filed against him, said he was a victim of jealousy and pledged to work for eliminating drug menace from Teknaf.

“The reputation of Cox’s Bazar district, despite many of its achievements and developments, is at stake because of the drug trade in this region. I am saying with a note of warning that those who did not surrender today will face dire consequences,” said IGP Javed Patwary.

“On the other hand, we will sincerely try to ensure a better life to those who surrendered today, and if needed they will be rehabilitated,” he also said.

Stressing that building a drug-free society cannot be achieved by the police alone, the IGP said a social movement is necessary in this regard.

“If any member of the law enforcement is found involved in drug trade, he will be treated in the same way as that of a drug peddler and will not be spared,” he also said.

He urged people from strata of life in Teknaf to come forward and act responsibly in a bid to build a drug-free society.

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