Yaba traders at anti-drug meet

Several Yaba traders, listed by the government, were invited as participants in an anti-drug and human trafficking meeting where they criticised the very list.

At the meet held at the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday afternoon, a local leader of the ruling Awami League even spoke for a ‘top Yaba trader’ killed in so-called encounter.

The home ministry’s Senior Secretary Md Mozammel Haque Khan was present at the meeting as the chief guest.

Ukhia-Teknaf MP Abdur Rahman Bodi, Awami League district unit acting President Ahmed Hossain, Cox’s Bazar municipal unit President Mujibur Rahman and Teknaf Upazila Chairman Zafar Ahmed were also present.

Bodi and several of his relations are accused of being involved in Yaba smuggling, while the name of Teknaf Upazila chairman is on the list of 1,200 Yaba traders prepared by the home ministry.

District Awami League President Ahmed Hossain claimed at the meeting that Zahed Hossain Jaku, killed in an ‘encounter’ with RAB on May 4 this year, was an ‘innocent’ person.

He said Jaku, Teknaf Thana Swechchhasebak League President, had no links with Yaba smuggling.

Hossain demanded a probe into the ‘encounter’ and scrutiny for the listed Yaba traders.

Teknaf Upazila Chairman Zafar Ahmed said the list of the home ministry was prepared only to harass several people.

MP Bodi also demanded scrutiny of the list by a new committee.