Narco convicts to hold anti-drug awareness campaigns

A Cox's Bazar court has put three convicts in a narcotics case on probation with the condition that they will organize anti-drug awareness campaigns.     

Judge Rajib Kumar Deb of Chakaria  Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Cox's Bazar passed the exceptional verdict on 21 October.

The conditions are as follows – the offenders will organize anti-drug campaigns on the court premises, Chakaria traffic police box and 15 schools on the scheduled dates.

According to the court record, the three – Md Rajib, Minu Akter and Momtaz Begum -- were arrested on 27 August 2017 from their Chakaria residences for possession of yaba and marijuana. A case under the Narcotics Control Act was subsequently filed against the trio.          

Following the three-long year trial, the court put opted for probation rather than imprisonment.  

According to the probation conditions, the three offenders will stand at the designated spots at the pre-set date and time and call out the following messages, "Drug peddling, possession and abuse are punishable offences, which are subject to severe punishment by law."

They will also have to say, "Drug peddling, possession and abuse are social offences, which also cause financial and mental loss. Individuals involved in these crimes are reviled by their families and society at large.

The accused will warn that "Drugs destroy the body's immune system and cause a range of diseases. The menace has put our youths on the precipice of destruction, with the whole nation suffering the consequences".

They will say, "We urge you to refrain from selling, transporting and consuming drugs and to also request your children, relatives and neighbours to stay away. Otherwise, the consequences will be terrible. So, say no to drugs; hate drugs. We will never sell, transport or use drugs in future."

The convicts must continue the campaigns at Chakaria court, Chakaria traffic police box and 15 schools until April 2021.