Nikunja Under Siege: Drug Scourge Threatens a Generation, Fuels Crime Wave

Special Correspondent, Dhaka : What appears on the surface to be the peaceful, familiar residential area of Nikunja is, in reality, the operational hub of a terrifying and invisible drug empire. Beneath the veneer of normalcy, as day gives way to night, Nikunja’s alleys, vacant plots, and secluded corners become the setting for an “open secret”—the brazen sale and consumption of drugs that is ripping apart the social fabric and pushing its youth toward destruction.

Once a symbol of quiet living, Nikunja is now gripped by fear. This unchecked drug invasion is not just a moral crisis; it is now the primary fuel for escalating crime in the locality, according to deeply concerned residents.

The Dark Nexus: Drugs as the Engine of Crime

The correlation between drug availability and the rise in criminal activity is no longer an assumption—it is a lived, daily reality for Nikunja residents.
“From theft, snatching, and mugging to the rise of juvenile gangs—drugs repeatedly emerge as the common denominator.”
To finance their crippling addiction, users are turning to crime, making areas like Tanpara, Jamtala, Paschimpara, Sarkarbari, and the old market constant hotspots for the free movement of drug users.

Identified Hotspots: The Map of a Menace

Local sources have identified more than a dozen spots where open drug sale and consumption take place. These are not hidden dens, but common spaces where the presence of users becomes overt during certain hours:

* Tanpara–Paschimpara Road: Nazrul’s fish shed and the very end of Paschimpara.
* Jamtala: Vacant land near Jamtala Mosque’s fish market, Alijan’s Tek, and Manik’s area.
* Aijjar Basti: Khorshed and Asif’s areas.
* Central Nikunja: Empty land east of Pillar Khayer’s house, areas around the BNP office near Petrobangla, the road west of Jane Alam School, and floating shops in front of BRTC.
* Nikunja-2: The west side of Road No. 18 and the east side of Roads 13 to 17.

The Syndicate: Dealers Shielded by Influence

The drug activity, which has reportedly multiplied several times since August 5, is being carried out by an increasingly organized and reckless network of dealers. Residents allege that a severe lack of effective administrative oversight and intelligence operations has allowed this to flourish.
Alarmingly, the investigation reveals that some traders are using political banners as shields for their illicit operations:

* Nur Hossain Lal is allegedly operating drug sales through his brother, Babul, using the name of Jubo Dal.
* Mofababbu, an accused in multiple cases, allegedly uses the banner of Swechchhasebak Dal to sell various drugs through his brother, Zisan.
* The name of Delwar, known as an influential figure in auto-rickshaw control, has also surfaced among the drug sellers.

In addition to these, long-involved dealers well-known to the community include Nabi Hossain and Sabuj (near Tanpara Muslim market), Ripon the carpenter (from Madhyapara), and the aforementioned Khorshed, Asif, and Manik.

A Generation Lost: A Grave Warning

History affirms that the youth are a nation’s greatest strength, playing a decisive role in progress and liberation. Today, that very youth in Nikunja is lost and directionless under the assault of drugs. When young people—even from respectable families, lured by quick money—become tools of this dark trade or regular users, it ceases to be a local issue.
It becomes a grave warning for future generations and public security across the capital.

Demand for Sustained Action

Despite various community protests and initiatives, residents feel that police actions have been either cosmetic or mere eyewash. Their demand is clear and urgent:

* Immediate, Special, and Sustained Operations to curb all drug activities.
* Regular Patrols and Covert Surveillance at identified hotspots.
* Permanent Measures at known drug sale points.
* Involvement of Youth in building social resistance and engaging them in positive activities.

Police Assurance: “Zero Tolerance”

Responding to the crisis, Mohammad Abdul Alim, the newly appointed Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khilkhet Police Station, issued a firm commitment. “Police are working with a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, and no leniency will be shown… Protecting youth from drug aggression is a firm commitment of the police.”
The OC emphasized the need for national unity against drugs and encouraged moral education, human values, and patriotism among the youth as core objectives. He assured that any information related to drugs, if reported directly, will be acted upon immediately.

The people of Nikunja can only hope that these assurances translate swiftly into visible and effective field-level actions, saving both an area and a generation from the dark grip of drugs.