The New Nation - Internet Edition

M Sohel Rana from RU

Phensidyl, a highly addictive drug, is gaining massive popularity among the drug addicts on the Rajshahi University (RU) campus where the number of drug users is increasing at a horrifying scale.

Phensidyl is as available as water on the campus and its adjacent areas. A bottle of phensidyl costs Tk 240 to 280. Demand for phensidyl is growing not only among the male students but also female students and a section of junior teacher also. The other drugs now on alluring demand include yaaba, wine, morphine, sedative tablet, opium, cocaine, cannabis herbs and pathedrine injection.

A source said most of the students have been familiarized with drugs by their classmates, fellow students or friends, who initially offered them drug on complementary basis. Thus, most of the addicts became addicted. A large number of drug addicts are suffering from various chronic diseases, the sources added.

Campus sources said a strong network is active in the drug business in and around the campus. Some spots surrounding the campus area are considered as dens for selling the drugs, especially ganja, phensidyl. The spots are Fine Arts Institute area, kazla, Binodpur, Meherchandhi, university railway station, Buthpara, Majar near university and Vadra residential bazar adjacent to RUET, Rajshahi.

Most of the addicted students collect drugs from any of these spots and use it at different places on the campus. Floating drug retailers and a section of canteen boys are involved in supplying the drugs to the students and young outsider on the campus, the sources added.

Moreover, phensidyl consumption is also going on unabated in the residential halls, classrooms and even in the Central Library of the varsity. Every day, a large number of empty bottles of phensidyl are removed from the toilers of halls, classrooms and Central Library. Before one week, a large number of bottles have recovered from a ladies hall roof by the hall employees. It is alleged that the drug addicts are getting involved in various anti-social activities inside and sometimes outside the campus.

Recently conducted a raid at slum of Fine Arts Institute and adjacent railway shops, RAB arrested two-person Rafikul Islam and an identified with huge bottles of Phensidyl and Ganga . Source said Joshna Khatun of that slum house is the don of drug business. She deals in by support of local power and leaders of different various parties.

Dr. Nazib Wadud, the Physician of the Rajshahi University Medical Centre (RUMC) said, "Rajshahi University will face a catastrophe in the not-too-distant future if the alarming drug abuse is not effectively checked through extensive motivation."