Badi’s brother-in-law dies in anti-drug crackdown in Cox’s Bazar

Akhter Kamal, a relative of Abdur Rahman Badi, the Awami League MP known as a godfather of yaba trade in Teknaf, has been found dead in Himchhari area in Cox’s Bazar.

The 48-year old Kamal was a member of Ward No. 3 of Teknaf Upazila’s Sabrang Union. He was wanted in five cases related to human and drug trafficking.

The body was recovered from Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive in Ramu Upazila on Friday morning, according to Additional Superintendent of Police of Cox's Bazar Afrujul Haque Tutul.

As many as 1,000 yaba pills, a gun and six bullets were recovered from the scene.

“Akhter was a long-time fugitive in narcotics cases. In the morning, locals informed police after they found his bullet-ridden body,” said Tutul.

Akhter was killed in a gun-battle between the two groups of yaba smugglers, he said.

Besides Kamal, police recovered another bullet-ridden body from Pahartoli area in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday night. The dead was identified as Mustak Ahmed, according to Maheshkhali Police Station Chief Pradip Kumar Das.

“Akhter Kamal was the brother of Badi’s elder sister Shamsunnahar’s husband,” Subrang Union Parishad Chairman Nur Hossain told bdnews24.com.

However, Badi was not immediately available for comment.

Badi was named in the government’s intelligence report in 2014-15 for drug trafficking in Cox's Bazar-Teknaf area. But he always denied his involvement in drug trade.

Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s order, the anti-narcotics campaign started in the country earlier this month.

Although, MP Badi's name was abuzz among the people of the country, Badi remained untouched since the anti-drug crackdown began. This has raised questions among the people about the role of law enforcers in the anti-narcotics campaign.

The BNP, the arch-rival of the ruling party, has alleged that Badi is being let off for political reasons.

Echoing the BNP, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad said, “The godfathers of drugs are in parliament. Hang them after trial.”

In the face of fierce criticism from different political parties, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday: “No-one can be caught without proof. An MP cannot be arrested without a warrant. He will be arrested, if his involvement is proved.”