Former Awami League lawmaker Abdur Rahman Badi’s wife denied allegations of him being a yaba smuggler saying that there is no proof against him.
“Even though his name is on the list of yaba smugglers, there is no evidence against him,” Badi’s wife, Shahin Akhter who is the current MP for Cox’s Bazar-4, told Bangla Tribune on Wednesday (Jan 24).
Shahin talked about the yaba smugglers surrendering, saying that she started anti-drug activities since she was elected as a lawmaker.
“So far 40-50 yaba peddlers have agreed to surrender,” she said.
Responding to queries about her husband’s name being in the list of yaba-trade bigwigs, she said, “His name is there but has anyone been able to prove it? My husband made it clear during the 10th Parliament that he is not a yaba trader.”
Claiming that her husband’s name got on that list “by mistake,” Shahin said, “Top government officials and ministers have said that there is no proof against him.”
She however declined to comment on what steps they were going to take in that matter.
In 2018, law enforcers led massive anti-drug drives after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.
During that time 1,152 yaba smugglers were listed by the home ministry amongst whom 912 were based in Teknaf.
Badi and 26 members of his family was listed there along with many BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.