‘39 percent of inmates involved in drugs’

Staff Correspondent: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said 30 percent of prisoners are involved in drugs.

He said, “Capacity of our prisons is 35,000. Now there are 86,339 inmates in jails. Of them, 39 percent are involved in drugs.”

The Minister said this while speaking at a round table titled “Anti-drug drive and social attitude” at the capital’s BIISS auditorium on Saturday.

Kamal said, “Many were held in the ongoing anti-drug drive across the country. Many of them were sued. Many were also sent to jail through mobile courts.”

In reply to query over ‘gunfight’, the Minister said, “Where there are drugs, there are illegal money and arms. So, firing must if any drive is conducted there.”

When asked about Teknaf municipality councillor Akramul’s murder, Kamal said, “The matter is under investigation. Steps must be taken if someone is found guilty in this case.”

The Minister said, “Myanmar is sending Yaba to Bangladesh with state patronisation. I informed the matter to Suu Kyi. But they did not take any step. The biggest route to Yaba is the Naf River. We already imposed a ban on fishing in the river to prevent Yaba smuggling.”
 

risingbd/Dhaka/June 09, 2018/Nur/A K Azad