Driver caught in ‘first attempt’ at carrying yaba

Consumed by the greed of making a quick buck in exchange for carrying contraband yaba pills, a microbus driver has ultimately ended up in jail.

Jahangir Alam, 28, of Rangpur, has confessed to his crime before a magistrate, saying it was his first attempt at transporting the illicit drug.

Around Wednesday midnight, police arrested Jahangir after they had found 8,200 yaba tablets in his microbus on the way to Dhaka from Kurigram.

The law enforcers produced him before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Paban Chandra Barman the following day.

Following Jahangir's confession, the judge sent him to jail and set July 15 for the next hearing.

The Business Standard has obtained a copy of Jahangir's confessional statement.

Jahangir carried the illicit drugs for a mere Tk10,000 in addition to the regular fare of his microbus, according to his confession.

Around 15 days ago, Jahangir, who used to carry expatriates on the Dhaka-Kurigram route, took a Toyota Noah from his uncle Md Asaduzzaman.

Later on July 3, he came to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka with an expatriate from Kurigram.

At Gazipur's Konabari on his way back home the same day, Jahangir took another passenger named Sagor Ahmed who along with his daughter was supposed to go to Rowmari.

Arriving at the destination, Sagor expressed interest in hiring Jahangir's microbus to go back to Dhaka in a few days.

Five days later, Sagor called Jahangir and said they would go back to the capital the next day and requested him to get ready for the ride.

"On July 9 evening, amid heavy rain and storm, we started the journey to Dhaka from Kurigram's Ghughumari Ghat," Jahangir said. "Sagor Ahmed asked me to pull over the microbus at Char Sholmari market, where he collected more than Tk120,000 through bKash accounts."

In his confessional statement, Jahangir further said, "When we arrived in Datbhanga area of Rowmari, previously known two persons – Jaydul Islam and Chatku Miah – joined us."

He said the duo brought with them a yellow shopping bag filled with "illegal materials".

Meanwhile, Sagor offered Jahangir extra Tk10,000 for carrying the bag.

Driven by greed, he accepted the offer and started the microbus for the capital.

Actually, the yellow bag was filled with a large consignment of the contraband pills carried from the bordering area.

As the microbus reached Rowmari's DC Road area, police stopped the vehicle, arrested the three persons and seized the pills.

Police later filed a case against Jahangir, Sagar and Chatku Miah under the Narcotics Control Act with the Rowmari police station.

The judge sent the three to jail after they were produced before the court.

In the court, Jahangir regretted his crime.

"I failed to overcome my greed. I have not done any such activity before. Now, I expect lenient punishment," he added in the confession.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Mohibul Islam Khan, superintendent of police in Kurigram, said the accused had collected the consignment from the bordering area and had been taking it to Dhaka.

"None involved in drug peddling will be spared. Kurigram police are committed to root out the crazy drug from the area. We are seriously looking into the matter as per police headquarters' directives," he added.