Police have detained four people, including an employee of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), after recovering yaba and equipment allegedly used to consume the drug from a guest house on the university campus.
The four were detained from Room 6 of the Krishibid Guest House on Tuesday night, according to Sub-Inspector Mahbub of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station.
Those detained have been identified as Labib Hasan Mithun, a third-class employee of the university’s Department of Agribusiness and Marketing, and three outsiders — Samiul Alim, Samiul Ibne Ashikur Rahman and Soad.
Police said yaba and equipment associated with its consumption were recovered during the operation. Officers at the scene also alleged that the occupants attempted to dispose of some of the yaba by flushing it down a toilet after police arrived.
The incident came to light after guest house staff noticed unusual activity around Room 6. According to Aniruddha Sarkar, an assistant professor and officer-in-charge of the Krishibid Guest House, the room had been booked in Mithun’s name.
Sarkar said he received a call from guest house staff after returning home from work. They reportedly told him that several unfamiliar people were making repeated visits to the room, motorcycles had been parked there and the activity appeared unusual.
As other guests were staying at the guest house at the time, Sarkar advised staff members not to confront the situation on their own. He subsequently contacted the university’s assistant proctor, who discussed the matter with the proctor before going to the room with members of the proctorial vigilance team.
When the room was opened, four people were found inside. According to Sarkar, they included the university employee who had booked the room, an air-conditioning mechanic and two other people who were not immediately known to the university authorities.
Sarkar said there was a strong smell inside the room and the behaviour of those present appeared unusual. A subsequent search of the bathroom by police led to the recovery of four to five yaba tablets along with a kit, which was seized as evidence.
University Proctor Professor Md Abdul Alim said the proctorial body and police went to the guest house after receiving information that outsiders were staying in one of its rooms. After entering the room, they found equipment used for consuming yaba, following which police recovered the suspected drugs and detained the four people.
The presence of outsiders in university accommodation has also raised questions about the monitoring and use of guest house facilities, particularly when other guests are staying on the premises. In this case, university authorities said the matter was brought to the attention of the relevant officials after staff noticed activity they considered suspicious.
The four detainees were taken to Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station. Sub-Inspector Mahbub said legal proceedings against them were being initiated. The police investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the recovered drugs and the alleged attempt to dispose of some of them.
