The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) and SRB-10 have launched an anti-narcotics drive in the Ghuntighar railway station area of Gendaria in the capital – the site of a recent operation by Ishraque Hossain, detaining at least 14 people.
 
The operation was conducted on Monday afternoon, immediately after Ishraque, lawmaker for Dhaka-6 constituency, criticised the anti-narcotics activities of the police and Department of Narcotics Control at a press conference.
 
A team led by Anwar Hossain, deputy director of Dhaka Metro-South of the Department of Narcotics Control, took part in the drive, searching various narcotics-prone locations including Ghuntighar railway station and Munsirtek.
 
Earlier on Saturday, Ishraque Hossain came into discussion after displaying his weapon during an anti-narcotics drive in Gendaria. Facing criticism over the incident, he resigned from the post of state minister on Monday afternoon.
 
Prior to his resignation on Monday afternoon, Ishraque criticised the anti-narcotics operations of the police and the Department of Narcotics Control at a press conference organised at the National Press Club, following which the Department of Narcotics Control initiated the drive in the Ghuntighar area of Gendaria.
An official of the Department of Narcotics Control who took part in Monday’s operation said that regular drives are conducted in various areas identified as narcotics-prone, including Ghuntighar railway station and Munsirtek.
 
Along with filing cases during these operations, mobile courts led by an executive magistrate are also operated, though making these areas completely drug-free remains difficult despite repeated drives.
 
The official explained that many of the drug users and traders in these areas are floating, arriving suddenly to buy, sell, or consume drugs before departing. Legal action is taken against those apprehended during operations, but many return once law enforcement personnel leave.
 
The official added that such situations are common in areas adjacent to railway stations, where a large area must be kept under surveillance simultaneously with limited manpower.
 
Consequently, after conducting an operation in one location and moving to perform duties elsewhere, drug users and traders often begin gathering in the previous area again.
 
The official highlighted the lack of adequate manpower for permanent surveillance in the Ghuntighar area as a major challenge.