121 drug traders return to normal life in Panchbibi

A large number of people of Panchbibi upazila under Joypurhat district witnessed a unique event on Tuesday, saying goodbye to underage marriage and illegal drug trade at a colourful programme held at Panchbibi Stadium. 

As many as 121 illegal drug traders of Panchbibi municipality have surrendered to police and vowed to leave the harmful practice for good, said Mollah Nazrul Islam, superintendent of police of Joypurhat, who chaired the programme organised by Panchbibi community police.

Attending the programme as chief guest, Abdullah Al Mahmud, deputy inspector general of police in Rajshahi Range, declared the upazila free from underage marriage and drug trade.

This is a wonderful example of how cooperation between police and locals can help to overcome social problems, he said.

Abdur Rahim, deputy commissioner of Joypurhat, Solaiman Ali, Joypurhat Zila Parishad administrator, Habibur Rahman, mayor of Panchbibi municipality, Mir Shaheed Mondal, a local language movement hero, Abdul Hakim Mondal, president of Joypurhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Ashraful Islam, officer in charge of Panchbibi Police Station, spoke, at the programme.

The speakers urged the locals to remain vigilant to prevent underage marriage and drug trade in the upazila.

Later, the DIG handed over easy bikes, sewing machines and rickshaws to 121 former drug traders in Panchbibi upazila as aid for their rehabilitation.

One of them, Md Manik Hossain, said he left the illegal business as police assured him of cooperation for resuming normal with decent earning.

"I think many illegal drug traders want to leave the act if they get cooperation of police," he said.

"Coming here, I learnt about the bad impact of underage marriage. I will work to prevent child marriage, which is against the law," said Nurjahan Begum, 55.

Later a jubilant procession was brought out in Panchbibi town.

In Kalai upazila of of Joypurhat last year, around 100 drug traders surrendered to police and returned to normal life.

There police is also conducting an awareness campaign so that people do not fall into the trap of traders of human organ.