Home Affairs Adviser, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, has alleged that India manufactures the cough syrup Phensedyl primarily for smuggling into Bangladesh.
He made the remarks during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday, following a program where government grants were distributed to improve private drug rehabilitation centers.
The adviser identified India and Myanmar as the two principal sources of illegal drug trafficking into Bangladesh. “Phensedyl is produced in India with the intent of being trafficked into Bangladesh,” he stated, adding, “The majority of yaba tablets enter through the Myanmar border.”
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury emphasized that corruption and drug abuse remain the two most pressing challenges for the country.
“Despite many efforts, these two issues have not yet been fully brought under control,” he said.
To counter cross-border drug trafficking, the adviser noted that the government has enhanced diplomatic engagement with neighboring countries and intensified surveillance by law enforcement agencies, particularly along the India and Myanmar borders.
The statement underscores the government’s concerns about external sources of narcotics that continue to undermine domestic efforts to curb drug abuse, while reaffirming a commitment to tackle the issue through both internal policy and international cooperation.
