Roni Akand Special Correspondent Joypurhat:

The Narcotics Control Department has arrested a person named Harej Mandal (50) with a 12-foot tall and 4-kg cannabis plant that he had grown in the courtyard of a house in Aklapara village of Kalai upazila of Joypurhat for about five months. He was arrested during a raid in Aklapara village of Udaypur union of the upazila on Friday (August 21) night. The arrested Harej Mandal is the son of the deceased Abdul Jalil Mandal of Aklapara village.

According to sources from the District Narcotics Control Department office, the raid was conducted on Friday night based on a secret tip-off that there was a cannabis plant in the courtyard of Harej Mandal's house. Members of the Narcotics Control Department raided his house around 8:30 pm and found a cannabis plant about 12 feet tall in the courtyard of the house. Later, the cannabis plant was seized and Harej Mandal was arrested.

It was learned from talking to local residents that the marijuana plant was planted in the courtyard of the house about five months ago. The matter came to the attention of the locals when the plant grew over time. Some local residents asked Harej Mandal to destroy the marijuana plant. However, the locals alleged that he continued to regularly maintain the plant without listening to the locals.

According to the locals, the plant was grown for about five months through maintenance. At one stage, it reached a height of about 12 feet. Later, the matter came to the attention of the Narcotics Control Department. Based on a secret tip-off, a raid was conducted and the plant was seized and Harej Mandal was arrested.

Those involved in the raid said that the marijuana plant was recovered planted in the courtyard of the house. The plant had been maintained there for a long time and it is being investigated whether anyone else was involved in it.

After the incident, a wide discussion has started in the area about the matter. Locals said that despite the ban, the plant is not being removed and is being regularly maintained, and it is necessary to seriously investigate whether there is any planned involvement behind it.

Sirajul Islam, Sub-Inspector of the Narcotics Control Department of Joypurhat district, said that a case has been filed against the arrested Harej Mandal under the existing Narcotics Control Act at Kalai Police Station. Where the cannabis plant was collected from and whether anyone else is involved in it is also being investigated.