Poppy, a narcotic plant, is still being cultivated illegally in dense jungles in Keokradong hill in Bandarban. Locals said the opium from these cultivations is smuggled into Indian and Myanmar border. Members of Rapid Action Battalion-7 (RAB) destroyed four Poppy fields in remote jungles on Keokradong under Ruma upazila of Bandarban. RAB conducted the operation from 7 am in the morning to 12 in the noon on Friday, informed Mashiur Rahman, Commander of RAB-7.
He further said acting on a tip off, the RAB team raided the deep forest, some 20 kilometer away from Keokradang hill. Later on, the RAB team recovered 60 litters of poppy juice from seven acres of land. He further said, the owner of the land is being tracked and a case will be filed against him. Abul Kashem Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge of Ruma Police station said RAB did not inform them about the raid; however, the case will be filed under Ruma police station.
On March 6 last year, armed forces members destroyed 35 decimals of Poppy field at Larning Para of Kurakpata union under Ali Kadam upazila of Banderban. In some remote areas of Thanchi and Ali Kadam, some locals and some miscreants have been cultivating Poppy for a long time.