Home Secretary Rebuked for Failing to Stop Constituency Drug Trade

The Home Secretary, Salahuddin Ahmed, has faced a severe reprimand from political opponents over his apparent inability to eliminate the illicit narcotics trade within his own home district of Cox’s Bazar. This high-profile critique was delivered by Nahid Islam, the Convenor of the National Citizen’s Party (NCP) and the Opposition Chief Whip, who openly questioned how the ministry could guarantee public safety across the wider nation when it cannot secure its own regional strongholds.

The political assault took place on Monday afternoon during a significant political rally in Kaliganj, Gazipur. The gathering was convened to mark the second anniversary of the historic July mass uprising, serving as the culmination of the NCP’s month-long “July Procession” initiative. The platform allowed opposition frontliners to heavily challenge the current administration’s domestic security strategies and regional law enforcement failures.

Parliamentary Contradictions Ignite Opposition Fury

This fierce public criticism follows a series of uncomfortable debates within the legislature. Islam highlighted a highly embarrassing development from a recent parliamentary session, pointing out that a lawmaker from the Home Secretary’s own ruling party had openly characterised Cox’s Bazar as the primary sanctuary and launchpad for nationwide drug trafficking networks.

“I must tell the Home Secretary plainly: first bring an end to the narcotics cartel operating in Cox’s Bazar,” Islam stated during his address to the crowd.

The Opposition Chief Whip asserted that if the home ministry is functionally impotent when it comes to regulating and cleansing the Home Secretary’s own locality, any governmental assurances regarding a nationwide crackdown on drugs or the absolute restoration of law and order remain entirely hollow. The opposition is now demanding immediate operational accountability and transparent structural overhauls within the home ministry’s regional branches.

Mass Mobilisation and the Push for Reform

The Kaliganj rally marked a pivotal moment in the NCP’s coordinated campaign to sustain political pressure on the government. The procession drew substantial local crowds, demonstrating that public interest in the political legacy of the July movement remains incredibly potent. A strong contingent of central and regional opposition executives traveled to Gazipur to lend weight to the demonstration. Among the notable figures present were the NCP Member Secretary, Akhtar Hossain, and the Chief Organiser for the northern zone, Sarjis Alam, alongside an array of local community organisers.

Throughout the afternoon, keynote speakers repeatedly pledged to keep the spirit of the July uprising alive through persistent structural agitation. The leadership announced that their month-long programme of civil engagement will continue unabated, focusing heavily on demanding comprehensive democratic reforms, strict institutional transparency, and the total preservation of fundamental civil rights. For the NCP, the complete eradication of institutional corruption and regional drug cartels is no longer just a policy goal, but a vital cornerstone of their broader national reform agenda.