At least 70,000 people in the country are involved in trading drugs, says the chief of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
“A countrywide crackdown on narcotics is on following the prime minister’s order. At least 70,000 people are involved in the trade,” Benazir Ahmed, director general of the elite police unit, said on Saturday.
His remarks came while addressing an event in Dhaka.
“RAB did not arrest drug peddlers, but those behind manufacturing and distribution. Those who are found with 30,000 yaba tablets are not petty traders,” said Benazir.
The size of the drug trade is over Tk 1 trillion in Bangladesh, he said before adding “Eradicating drugs is a challenge and it’s not possible to bring it down to zero.”
On the deaths during the raids, the RAB boss said, “We are not defending deaths, but I urge the media and the commentators, let’s make a difference and let’s make it together.”