Home minister's neighbourhood major drug trafficking route: Gayeshwar tells parliament

BNP-backed Dhaka-3 MP Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has alleged that Bangladesh's largest drug consignments continue to enter the country through areas near the home minister's residence, questioning why authorities have failed to stop trafficking along the route despite years of enforcement efforts.

Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed FY2026-27 budget in Jatiya Sangsad today (27 June), he described drug addiction as one of the country's gravest crises and called for stronger political commitment to curb narcotics.

"Earlier, we used to hear about Bodi [an Awami League-backed former MP from Teknaf]. Now Bodi is no longer there. So who has taken responsibility for that area?" he questioned, referring to former MP Abdur Rahman Bodi, who is now in jail.

"People living around the home minister's residence should be known to the authorities. Drug trafficking through that route should have stopped by now. Laws alone cannot solve the problem. It takes courage, honesty and political will to enforce them," he said. 

Highlighting the impact of drug abuse at the local level, BNP's senior leader said a 10-bed government hospital in his constituency has effectively turned into a hub for drug addicts.

"The hospital building is there, but there are no patients, no doctors and no security guard. It has become a den for drug addicts," he said.

According to the BNP leader, the hospital serves an area with an official population of around 600,000, although the actual number of residents is closer to 1.5 million.

The senior politician, however, said corruption remains the biggest challenge to implementing the proposed budget and urged the government to take effective steps to curb it.

"We need to rein in this corruption. If we don't rein in corruption, we will sink under it (the pressure of corruption), If we can bring corruption down to zero per cent, the budget can be fully implemented," he said.

He also alleged that some tax officials were more interested in enriching themselves than in increasing government revenue and urged Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury to adopt strategic measures to reduce corruption in revenue collection.

Gayeshwar also called for stronger action against corruption, warning that it could overwhelm the nation if left unchecked. 

Referring to a proposal by another MP to increase lawmakers' benefits by providing washing machines, he said public representatives should prioritise the needs of ordinary citizens over their own privileges.

Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, "Jamaat was born out of opposition to Bangladesh. That is its character. So, it is natural for them to oppose. There is no reason to lose our heads over it."

Stressing the need for courage to move ahead and overcome challenges, he said Bangladesh had attained independence by overcoming all opposition during the Liberation War and now the democratically elected government and parliament would likewise be able to successfully implement the budget, facing all obstacles.