50-year-old IG Gate slum evicted amid drug trade allegations

A nearly 50-year-old slum in Dhaka's Shyampur area, identified by police as a longstanding hotspot for alleged drug dealing, has been evicted following a three-day drive by Dhaka South City Corporation authorities.

The eviction operation was carried out from 26 to 28 September with assistance from Shyampur Model Police Station, police said.

Evicted IG gate slum. Photo: TBS

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Md Aktar Hossain confirmed the matter today (8 October), saying the IG Gate area had long been the subject of allegations of drug dealing.

"Police have been conducting regular drives and surveillance to maintain law and order after identifying locations associated with drug dealing," he said.

According to police, the movement of alleged drug dealers and users in the area had disrupted residents' normal lives and increased the risk of students and young people from nearby educational institutions being exposed to drugs.

Against this backdrop, police stepped up raids and intelligence surveillance targeting suspected drug dealers. Locations allegedly used for drug-related activities were subsequently identified, and eviction drives were carried out with support from the city corporation.

Various illegal structures allegedly used for selling, storing and consuming drugs were removed during the operation, police said.

According to Shyampur police, 29 drug-related cases were filed in the IG Gate area between 2025 and September 2026. Two additional cases were filed over attacks on police during the same period.

Police said 251 mobile court drives were conducted in the area during the period, resulting in sentences for 389 people for varying terms.

DC Aktar said police drives and surveillance against drug dealing and related crimes would continue.