The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Masum Billah

Just like sidr Yaba has also shaken a particular section of youngsters representing the serous moral degradation of the society. Its force and fury stands not less than sidr which demolished the southern belt of the country representing destructive natural force. Yaba also demolished the morality of our youngsters whose bright future has been turned into dark, quite dark. Now let us see the origin, causes and possible remedies of Yaba conundrum. The Nazis manufactured this tiny but stormy pill to keep their troops awake for days which has found its place among the rich and well-to do youngsters in Bangladesh though it has been banned across the globe. Its ugly touch has vitiated the most formative section of the citizens of our country.

Drugs of whatever kind have immense influence, particularly on youngsters who easily fall into trap of the drug demos. Yaba addicts suffer from episodes of violent behaviors along with other physical and mental disorders. It has more hallucinogenic effect than heroine. Yaba damages the small blood vessels in the brain, leading to stroke.

The bad effect of yaba causes severe depression and rouses the desire to suicide. In one word this tiny red pill does wonders to the mind and body of humans.The yaba addiction leads the society towards imbalance as the addicts can cause any crime showing the thumb to the law enforcers.

The ugly politics, loose law enforcing situation, hooking up wealthy and powerful section to this malady have caused its spread dangerously. Yaba, as if appears has replaced other drugs as the favoured social lubricant among affluent urban Bangladesh. Who largely view this drug as recreational and sex stimulating tonic. They mean sex as the most physical enjoyment This kind of drug has become popular among the affluent section of people who can easily pocket the law enforcers and Narcotic Department. It can be said that it is a lucky moment for the country to nab the criminals related to yaba.

The following incidents reflect dangerous and harrowing picture of yaba and other drugs and drug business running in the this mega city which is already troubled with various crimes, traffic jams and increasing number of slums proclaiming not only the grim poverty but also the dens of crimes and criminals. Acting on the information gathered from the arrestees RAB raided a yaba factory in Gulshan on October 25 and seized 1.3 lakh yaba tablets worth over taka 4 crore. As one confession made to RAB by the arrestees reveals there are about one thousand dealers in the country and one is led to believe that there may be about several lakh high society people and young kids belonging to the wealthy sections hooked to such killing drugs .

They also seized 5000 ice pills phenidyl and foreign liquor worth taka 46 lakh.An open market for drugs appeared in the Daily Star on December 3,2007. ' It is virtually an open market for drugs.

Several hundred people most of them are drug users, every day visit the market an open field surrounded by sanities in Agargaon in the capital. A source of the Detective Branch of Department of Narcotics Control says everyday around three kilograms of heroin worth about three crore taka is sold out form a single spot at BNP slum in West Agargaon.

A team of plainclothes RAB on November 7 came under attack by the drug peddlers when they raided a house to recover heroin.Two RAB members -capt. Shariful Alam and sub-inspector Shahjahan suffered injuries as around 150 drug peddlers armed with stones, stick and iron rods attacked the elite force.

The godfathers engage paid and drug addicted people as guard in different important points of the city to avoid any kind of attack or arrest by the law enforcers. It is interesting enough that the immoral law enforcers and members of Narcotics Departments regularly earn a fat amount of money from the drug peddlers and this is the main reason for which it stands almost impossible to eliminate this evil from the society. Who will look and control whom?

I get astonished to think that the number of mosques is increasing. The whole city of Dhaka witnesses thousands of mosques and the mussulies also is increasing. Every Friday and in the month of Ramadan it is awfully difficult to make room in the mosque but the number of crimes in every sector is also increasing vying with these religious organizations.

My question is what is the role of these religious leaders who preach millions of people every Friday? Does it not have any tangible effect on human particularly young minds? These religious leaders must be aware of the modern social problems and find out the solutions in the light of reasonable and practical examples and ideas.

Only preaching on the basis of old histories of Islam cannot allure the people to throng in the mosque and religious gathering. One cannot but be astonished to witness that the preacher of the mosque where I offer my jumma prayer did not utter even a single word about sidr just the next Friday sidr hit the southern part of the country. He just preached some old and known histories or stories of Islam. Is it enough to play the part to boost up the morality of the youngsters?

The young register the vitality of a nation. They are the arteries of a nation. When they become morally weak and damaged, the nation must be crippled. The city of Dhaka poorly and the most indecent way accommodates many slums where the poorest and the hapless human creatures huddle with the least possible necessities of humans. The youngsters should know how to extend their possible helping hands towards them to alleviate their cruel poverty.

The educational institutional of all kinds show their mushroom growth and the kids of higher middle class and wealthy section gather around the fashionable ones. But what they learn where the hapless condition of the motherland cannot touch their heart? When the education fails to make them feel the chill penury of the millions cannot be termed as real education. This section remains unaware of the poor social state of the nation.

Parents must take the account of their children where and how they spend their time. Educational institutions cannot evade the responsibility of building up the morality of the learners. Utmost care and effort must be made to make the moral upliftment of the students. Teachers' duty does not confine only to taking class and giving home work. In the broader perspective of nation building activities, teachers must take the front stage otherwise the young generation must plunge into the ocean of ruins.

(The writer works as a specialist in BRAC Education Programme,PACE and regularly writes on national and international issues.)