SHAHEEN MOLLAH and MUNTAKIM SAAD

A few yards away from the rear gate of Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur, several men were selling heroin, cannabis and yaba in broad daylight. Holding polybags full of narcotics, they called out to potential buyers as pedestrians walked past.

This was the scene at midday in the neighbourhood on April 20.

For decades, Geneva Camp has been known as one of Dhaka’s most notorious drug hubs, with the illegal trade surviving successive governments and countless “special drives.”

Residents say the scenario changed after August 2024. The narcotics trade, which was mostly confined to the camp’s narrow alleys, has spilled onto the main streets. And it has become more organised.

To control lucrative spots, rival groups get locked in clashes, which have intensified amid lax law enforcement following the July mass uprising, say camp residents. At least 10 people have been killed in clashes over the last 19 months, according to media reports.

Despite frequent raids and installation of police checkpoints in Mohammadpur area, the drug trade continues almost uninterrupted.

Inside the camp, many believe that information on raids is leaked to the kingpins beforehand. Only drug carriers, sellers and buyers are frequently arrested, while those controlling the flow of narcotics remain untouched.

Camp sources said a section of law enforcers and their informants have helped the ringleaders evade arrest in exchange for money. This is why the drug network could not be dismantled.

Some people who once struggled to make ends meet have amassed huge wealth, thanks to the illegal trade. For them, punishment or OPEN The

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