Preparations underway for the surrender ceremony of yaba dealers in Cox's Bazar, on February 15, 2019 Dhaka Tribune

Ex-MP Bodi’s family members among them

Seven family members of former Awami League lawmaker and alleged yaba kingpin Abdur Rahman Bodi are among the yaba dealers scheduled to surrender in Cox’s Bazar today, according to police sources.

While Bodi himself is unlikely to attend the surrender ceremony, his wife Shahin Akter, a sitting MP, is set to be in attendance as a guest, they added.

The surrender of more than a hundred yaba dealers is historic, with almost half the members of the narcotics syndicate in Teknaf submitting to the authorities at Teknaf Pilot High School, in the presence of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Patwari. Among the drug dealers who will surrender, 10 are reportedly members of the Teknaf Union Parishad as seen on a partial list compiled by the district police.

A case will be filed against each drug dealer.

The surrendering drug dealers are expected to turn in the remainder of drugs and any firearms in their possession. There have been reports of yaba dealers using light machine guns to intimidate locals. A number of local residents have expressed their relief after learning of the development. But they remain wary nonetheless.

ABM Masud Hossain, superintendent of police in Cox's Bazar, said the number of yaba dealers who will surrender may rise, as more have come forward and expressed their intention to do so.

Additional Superintendent of Police Iqbal Hossain said the local administration have completed preparations for the surrender. The school field has been appropriated and decorated accordingly. In addition, the administration has continued to issue public service announcements to encourage other drug dealers to step forward and local residents to witness the historic surrender.

Meanwhile, the yaba dealers who will surrender are being kept in a police safe house at the Cox’s Bazar District Police Line until the ceremony.

What will happen after the surrender?

Police sources said their main task once the surrender is completed will be to monitor the dealers who surrendered. This will not be easy, as many are influential local representatives and live near the Myanmar border.

The dealers will still have to serve some jail time and undergo trial for cases previously filed against them. In addition, new cases will be filed against the dealers if they return to their drug dealing ways.

According to a source, the dealers may have to spend several months in jail, during which time the investigation of cases against them will be resolved. The dealers may be released on bail through normal legal procedure.

Furthermore, the source said the dealers who surrendered had agreed to help police trace other drug dealers after they were released from jail.

Regarding the illegal wealth accumulated by the drug dealers, sources said the Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh Bank, and National Board of Revenue (NBR) will investigate the matter before taking legal action.

“The investigation on their illegally earned wealth is not the primary concern now. Authorities will take their time to ensure that the investigation is conducted thoroughly,” the source added.