The much-talked about Chanpara slum in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj has become a “sanctuary” for drug smugglers, murderers, and other crime suspects, reveals a recent media investigation.

All types of drugs, including heroin, phensedyl, and yaba, as well as illegal weapons are traded here in broad daylight. Dwellers in the slum are accustomed to the sound of random gunshots as criminals very often engage in conflicts, resulting in six deaths in the last one and a half years.

Five decades ago, as many as 5,500 families, who became homeless due to river erosion across the country, were rehabilitated in the area named Chanpara Resettlement Centre, locals and public representatives said. The number of residents, however, has exceeded one lakh now.

Dwellers of Chanpara used to work as day labourers. In the early 1980s, drug peddling started in the region.

A number of gangs are now involved in the drug trade, extortion, hijacking, and various crimes, while drugs are supplied all over the country from Chanpara. This slum has become a “safe haven” for hitmen as well.

In the area, there are 250 spots for drug peddling. Most of the slum dwellers remain busy selling illegal drugs and arms. Here, shanties and other structures are compared to the “troves of secrets”.

Locals said most of the individuals involved in crimes are not the original inhabitants of this region. Criminals who took shelter at the slum from different parts of the country have become permanent residents later on.

They said there has been an alarming rise in drug abuse at Chanpara’s every nook and cranny. The situation has become the worst in the last five years.

Regarding the criminal activities in Chanpara, Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Golam Mostofa Rashel said their drive against drugs is going on. “We conduct raids at the slum from time to time.”

At Chanpara, Shamsher, also known as Shamsher Member, is the name of an individual who has established a reign of terror with his gang.

Local sources said Shamsher extorts Tk4.5 lakh per day from the slum. His gang has been maintaining dominance in the area for months under the patronisation of influential figures and a group of police officers.

Most of the drug consignments, sources said, enter Chanpara through the river routes as the “island-like” place is surrounded by rivers Shitalakkhya and Balu on its three sides. Besides, small and large consignments of drugs are also smuggled into the area through the land route.

Police raids hardly yield any result since the drug peddlers are tipped off before the drives are conducted and they flee the spot through the river routes.

Establishing dominance, murders

Beauty Akter, a former member (reserved seat) of Kayetpara Union Parishad, had established supremacy at Chanpara. Her husband MA Hasan alias Hasan Muhuri was murdered in late 2017 over establishing dominance in the area. Beauty was also murdered in June 2019.

After the deaths, Awami League’s Rupganj upazila unit member Bazlur Rahman took control of the business of drugs and arms at the slum.

Also a member of Ward-9 at Kayetpara Union Parishad, Bazlur was accused in about a dozen cases, including murder. He died in prison in March 2023.

In the last two decades, at least 15 people, including a police member, were killed at Chanpara over controlling the business of illegal drugs.

Several officers of the district police said two to three drug cases are filed almost every day. There are also allegations that police members get a large amount of money from the drug smugglers.

Contract killers

Local sources said about 40 contract killers stay at Chanpara.

Top terrorists Kamruzzaman Kamu, Anwar, Tokai Sagar, Murgi Milon, Pichchi Hannan, and many others used to stay in this slum.

Out of 42, at least 29 sensational murders in Rupganj after 1974 were committed by killers living in this slum.

Most of the accused in the cases related to the murders of industrialist Russell Bhuiyan, Khaled bin Jamal, Tarek bin Jamal, Chhatra Dal leader Shafiqul Islam, Moktar Hossain, businessman Alauddin, and contractor Belayet Hossain are from the Chanpara slum area.

Human trafficking, other crimes

Every year, 20 to 25 girls from Chanpara are sent to India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan on three-to-six-month visas identifying them as artistes.

According to the media investigation, human traffickers took them to the countries promising to give them better opportunities.  

There are also dope gang members and muggers at Chanpara. They commit crimes in Dhaka and its adjacent areas. The notorious dope gang “Khoyer-Molom Party” has 40 teams, while there are 25 groups of hijackers.

Yaba factory, women being used as mules

A yaba manufacturing factory has been set up at Chanpara, while women are used for trafficking yaba tablets, sources said.

The women are given training in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar on yaba smuggling. At present, three dozen women from Chanpara are involved in yaba trafficking.

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin (Translated)

BDST: 1321 HRS, JULY 08, 2024