Police Constable Arrested in Chattogram with 50,000 Yaba Tablets

A serving member of the Bangladesh Police has been apprehended in Chattogram while allegedly transporting a substantial quantity of Yaba tablets from Cox’s Bazar to Khulna. The suspect, identified as Ashikul Islam, is a constable currently stationed with the Khulna District Police. The arrest took place on Tuesday morning in the Bakalia area of Chattogram city.

Details of the Operation and Arrest

The arrest was executed by officers from Bakalia Police Station during a targeted operation at the Shahid Bashiruzzaman Roundabout, situated near the Shah Amanat Bridge—a critical gateway for vehicles entering Chattogram from the southern coastal districts. Acting on specific intelligence, the police conducted a search of the suspect, which led to the discovery and seizure of 50,000 Yaba tablets.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bakalia Police Station, Mohammad Solaiman, confirmed that the suspect was intercepted while travelling from Cox’s Bazar. Following the seizure, a formal case was registered against the constable under the Narcotics Control Act. The accused was subsequently presented before a court, which ordered his remand in judicial custody.

Suspect Profile and Background

Ashikul Islam originates from the village of Babar Ali Munshi in the Gobindapur Union, located within the Muksudpur Upazila of Gopalganj district. At the time of his arrest, he was an active-duty constable of the Khulna District Police.

Institutional Response and Departmental Action

The Khulna District Police administration has acknowledged the incident and initiated internal protocols. Speaking on the matter, Anisuzzaman, the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) for Khulna District, stated that the department had been formally notified of the arrest.

“We have been informed of the arrest of a police member in Chattogram in connection with a drug seizure. Departmental action is currently being initiated against him,” the Additional SP remarked. When questioned regarding the suspect’s presence in Chattogram, the official noted that it remains unclear whether the constable was on authorised leave or if he had abandoned his duties to travel to the region.

Legal Framework and Context

Under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, the possession and transport of Yaba (a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine) carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the quantity seized. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in monitoring the “drug corridor” between Cox’s Bazar and the rest of the country.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the smuggling network and whether other individuals within the administrative framework were complicit in the transport of the illicit substances. For now, Ashikul Islam remains in jail as the judicial process commences in Chattogram.