Hapless children like this lone boy often fall prey to the drug peddlers.Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Drug peddlers in the city are using children, mostly from poor families, in their illegal trade despite regular police raids on the drug dens.
During the last two years police conducted regular raids and uprooted most of the wholesale drug selling spots but could not stop the business, police sources said.
The drug peddlers consider children as safe and cheap workforce for running their business. Children are being used as drug carriers, sellers and informers.
When police raid drug-peddling spots, the dealers escape leaving the children at the spots and it is not easy for the police to catch the children and arrest them.
Mohammad Abdul Momin, officer in-charge at Pallabi police station, said after they busted big drug spots, drug peddlers spread the business on the street.
About the use of children he said it is difficult for the police to catch the children despite the fact that they play a major role in the business.
Jamal (not his real name), a cannabis dealer who is operating his business in Pallabi, told this correspondent that due to regular police raids he has to close the shop.
He had three employees who worked in the shop and among them one was a child.
“I have engaged five children for selling drug. They all belong to poor families and reside in nearby shanties. I pay Tk 2,000 a month and two meals daily to the adult employee while the children get Tk 700 a month,” he said.
He said children are safe as seller and carrier because police do not suspect them.
The five children work as drug carriers for the customers who are shy and feel insecure at coming to the selling spots. They also keep watch on the drug selling points and inform the peddlers about customers and the police.
"I keep an watchful eye on the police and narcotics department officials. I know them all. I can identify police even in civil dress," Sahidar, one of the children, said.
He said that three years ago Jamal had saved him from the wrath of a mob as he was caught red-handed while stealing food from a shop.
At least three cases were lodged against him by the police and narcotics control officials over the last two and a half years, he said.
He said his employer helps him in moving the cases.
About using children in his business, Jamal said: "They are helpful for me and I also help them. They would have become muggers or something like that and it is better for them to sell drugs instead of becoming a criminal."
The section 37 of the Children Act, 1974 provides for punishment for giving intoxicating liquor or dangerous drug to children.
"Whoever in any public place, whether a building or not, gives or causes to be given in any child any intoxicating liquor or dangerous drug except upon the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner in case of sickness or other urgent cause shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to Taka five hundred or with both," says the law.
Aminul Islam, a child rights activist of an NGO told Star City that there is no parallel provision in the Narcotics Control Act 1990, so the crime of giving intoxicating liquor or dangerous drug to a child would be dealt with by the Children Act.
He said there is a problem too in the Children Act 1974 which does not define what is intoxicating liquor or dangerous drug, so any prosecution under this law is doubtful.