The top heroin dealers of Godagari, Rajshahi are extremely concerned about the illegal wealth they have built through drug trade. The assets of two top drug dealers have already been attached on the orders of the court. The illegal assets of at least 20 more people are being searched. The Directorate of Narcotics Control (DNC) is preparing to bring 184 heroin dealers listed in Godagari under investigation in phases.

Recently, after the issue of the seizure of assets of top drug dealer Tarek Hossain, who is currently in prison, came to light, there has been a widespread discussion in the drug syndicate of Godagari. Those concerned claim that many are now trying to transfer or hide their illegal assets in the names of others. However, conscious citizens have welcomed the initiative to seize illegal assets.

DNC sources said that the search for illegal assets of listed drug dealers began late last year. Those who have no legal source of income but have become owners of huge assets are being sued in court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. These assets are being seized by court order so that they cannot be sold, transferred or hidden.

In continuation of this, on April 6, the Senior Special Judge’s Court of Rajshahi ordered the attachment of land owned by drug dealer Md. Abdullah and his wife Sayera Begum of Sahragachhi village in Godagari. In this, 199.21 percent of the land owned by Abdullah in six documents and 174.5 percent of the land owned by Sayera Begum in five documents were seized.

Earlier, on May 23, the same court ordered the attachment of 199.1175 thousandths of land held in four documents belonging to Tarek Hossain, a top drug dealer in the Madarpur area of ​​Godagari Municipality.

The DNC said that Abdullah and Sayera couple acquired these assets through drug trafficking. Ali Aslam Hossain, Additional Director of the DNC’s Rajshahi Divisional Office, filed a case against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Following the court order, a government notice has been issued on the seized property.

On the other hand, locals say that Tarek Hossain, one of the top drug dealers in Godagari, used to regularly bring huge quantities of heroin from India and supply it to different parts of the country. On April 22 last year, he was arrested in a raid conducted with the help of the army and 1.3 million taka worth of heroin was recovered from his house. Later, based on the information he provided, a raid was conducted on his cattle farm in Tirinda Bhajanpur area of ​​the upazila and 6.5 kg of heroin worth about 6.5 crore taka was recovered. He has been in Rajshahi jail since then.

Later, Mehedi Hasan, deputy director of the DNC’s Rajshahi district office, filed a case against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In that case, the court ordered the attachment of land worth about 2.761 million taka.

Godagari Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsul Islam said, “There is no opportunity to sell or transfer these properties while the court’s order is in effect. The court’s order will be implemented properly.”

Advocate Salahuddin Biswas, president of the Godagari Citizens’ Interest Protection Committee, said, “The initiative to seize the illegal assets of drug dealers should have been taken long ago. Now they may try to transfer the assets to someone else’s name. We must keep an eye on that so that it is not possible.”

According to relevant sources, the illegal assets of Abul Kalam Azad, another top drug dealer from Sagarpara area of ​​Godagari Municipality, are also being investigated. Locals allege that he has been supplying huge amounts of heroin to different parts of the country every month for a long time. Although there are seven drug cases against him, the business has not stopped. It is alleged that he has amassed a wealth of about Tk 20 crore through drug dealing. He has been in hiding with his family since the recent anti-drug drive in the area was intensified.

Mehedi Hasan, deputy director of the DNC’s Rajshahi district office, said, “Initiatives have been taken to seize illegal assets to discourage drug trafficking. The assets of two people have already been attached. Investigations are underway regarding 20 more people. We have to coordinate with 20 to 22 departments to verify the information on assets. Action will be taken against those who do not have a legitimate source of income but have become the owners of huge assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.”

He further said that the DNC list includes the names of 184 top drug dealers from Godagari. They basically control the heroin syndicate and others work under them. All of them will be brought under investigation in phases and necessary legal action will be taken.