Rehana Begum spent years raising her son. But police say her son Ramim Islam Babu turned against her when she could no longer provide money for his drug addiction.
Babu, from Chakbazar West Baludhum area of Cumilla city, has been arrested over allegations that he killed his mother after demanding money to buy drugs.
Police said Babu had been regularly abusing his mother. On Monday night, he allegedly assaulted her, and the following morning attacked her with a sharp weapon after she refused to give him money. Rehana later died in hospital.
Her death is among a growing number of cases in Bangladesh where drug addiction has been linked to violence against parents, according to law enforcement officials and anti-drug campaigners.
In another recent case, a man in Feni’s Daganbhuiyan allegedly stabbed his mother, Lucky Begum, to death on Mother’s Day after she refused to give him money for drugs. His father Mohammad Mostofa and sister Mithila were also seriously injured when they tried to stop the attack.
Officials from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) say such incidents often occur when addicted individuals fail to obtain money for drugs and become violent towards family members.
Arup Ratan Chowdhury, founder of anti-drug organisation MANAS, said a 2020 report by the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and the Social Welfare and Development Organisation documented at least 200 cases of parents being killed by drug-dependent children over a 10-year period.
He believes the number has increased significantly in recent years. “Over the last six years, the number of such deaths appears to have risen considerably,” Chowdhury told Times of Bangladesh.
Addiction, aggression and family breakdown
DNC officials said prolonged drug use can lead to hallucinations, increased irritability and loss of self-control, which may contribute to criminal behaviour.
In many cases, repeated family conflicts over addiction eventually escalate into violence, they said.
In Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria, a man allegedly killed his father shortly after returning home from a one-month jail sentence following a complaint filed by his parents over his drug-related abuse.
The incident took place on 22 May in Moulavirkum village. Parents of Minarul Islam had complained against him after enduring repeated harassment linked to his addiction.
A mobile court sentenced him to one month in prison. Police said that after his release, Minarul returned home and allegedly attacked his elderly father Khalilur Rahman with a machete, killing him.
Local residents detained him while he was attempting to flee and handed him over to police.
Drugs spread across cities and villages
From urban neighbourhoods to remote villages, drugs remain widely available across Bangladesh despite repeated enforcement operations.
Arup Ratan, a member of the National Narcotics Control Board, said only a fraction of illegal drugs entering the country are seized.
“About 20% of drugs entering the country are detected. Dealers are now also using social media platforms. Modern technology must be used to control the problem, while families and communities must also take responsibility,” he said.
Authorities have identified or seized around two dozen types of drugs in Bangladesh. Among the most widely used are yaba, cannabis, phensedyl, heroin, crystal meth or “ice”, LSD, MDMA, buprenorphine and injectable drugs.
A recent study by Bangladesh Medical University estimated that about 8.2 million people in the country use some form of narcotics, equivalent to around 4.88% of the population.
The issue has become a major public concern as Bangladesh prepares to observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme “The global drug problem: ongoing challenges, new threats and innovative solutions”.
DNC Director General Mohammad Hasan Maruf said the agency has strengthened anti-drug operations by increasing its capacity.
Court backlog hampers fight against drugs
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said nearly 80,000 drug-related cases are currently pending in courts across Bangladesh.
He said lengthy legal procedures have slowed prosecutions, prompting the government to consider establishing separate tribunals for drug cases.
Officials also pointed to a shortage of laboratories capable of testing seized drugs, delaying investigations and court proceedings.
Police said delays often allow accused individuals to secure bail and return to illegal activities.
They also described difficulties in handling drug-dependent detainees. The DNC does not have its own detention facilities, and police stations often struggle to manage individuals experiencing severe withdrawal or aggressive behaviour.
Border routes and online networks
According to DNC data, drugs enter Bangladesh mainly through 95 vulnerable points across 19 border districts.
Yaba shipments from Myanmar enter mainly through Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban routes, including Teknaf and Ukhiya, often crossing the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal by boat. Increased monitoring in Teknaf has pushed traffickers towards alternative routes, including Naikhongchhari in Bandarban.
Authorities also say drugs enter through Indian border routes, including areas connected to West Bengal, Tripura and Assam.
Dealers are increasingly using Facebook, WhatsApp and encrypted online platforms to sell drugs, officials said.
To avoid detection, traffickers are also using school bags, goods-carrying vehicles, women and children to transport narcotics.
In 2025, the DNC, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard filed 76,134 cases involving 95,378 accused people.
Authorities seized 43.5 million yaba tablets, around 166 kg of heroin, 15 kg of cocaine, more than 106 tonnes of cannabis, and hundreds of thousands of bottles of phensedyl last year.
Between January and April this year, authorities filed 29,159 cases against 34,494 people and seized 18.5 million yaba tablets and 95 kg of heroin among other drugs.
Government plans stronger narcotics agency
The home minister said many drug traffickers operate with armed groups, while DNC officials conducting raids often lack weapons and logistical support.
The government is considering providing the agency with modern weapons, dog squads, detention facilities and improved transport. Officials are also preparing legal amendments aimed at strengthening enforcement powers and reducing delays in drug-related trials.
The proposed changes include provisions for detention facilities, better operational support and additional resources for the narcotics agency.
The home minister said the amendment bill could be placed before parliament soon.
For families like Rehana Begum’s, however, the fight against drugs is not only about stopping trafficking — it is about preventing addiction from destroying the very homes where it begins.
