Kaladan News

 

Dated: Tuesday, May 10, 2005

 

 

Poppy Cultivation of 100 Acres at Burma- Bangladesh Border Destroyed

 

Bandarban, May 10: Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and army in joint raids recently destroyed poppy grown illegally on 100 acres of land in unreachable hilly areas of Thanchi close to border with Burma, said Maung Maung, from Bandarban of Chittagong Hill Tracts.

 

This was disclosed by the Commander of Bandarban Army Region Brigadier General Abul Kalam Mohammad Humayun in a press conference held Bandarban on 7th May 2005, he further added.

 

The destroyed poppy was cultivated near 63, 64 and 65 pillars of Bangladesh-Burma border. Over 300 of Bangladesh Army and BDR took part in the operation carried out from March 24 to April 26.

 

BDR have launched a similar drive in 1997. At that time, they destroyed poppy cultivated on 200 acres land. The government planned an alternative to poppy cultivation for indigenous people in the area. But the plan was not implemented, at last.

 

According to sources, drug traders of Burma allegedly cultivate poppy along the Burma-Bangladesh border in collaboration with international drug smugglers and supply to world markets. ##

 

For more information, please contact at:

Phone: +880 11 227 138

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.kaladanpress.org