To stop narcotics smuggling through national and international courier services, the Department of Narcotics Control has recommended National Identity Card server access for couriers.

The anti-drug authority of Bangladesh came up with the idea after it found that transnational syndicates are using the couriers to smuggle drugs into the Middle East, America, Australia and some countries in Asia.

Smuggling narcotics from neighbouring India and Myanmar, syndicates are using Bangladesh as a major transit route.

In just five months from June this year, the DNC seized around 14 consignments of drugs meant to be sent to Saudi Arabia and the US by air, Rameshwar Das, assistant director (intelligence) of DNC, told yesterday.

The DNC recovered 21,614 yaba tablets from the consignments, and nine cases and four general diaries were filed over the incidents, he said.

Besides, two other consignments -- 12.32kg of amphetamine powder booked for Australia and 39,000 yaba pills booked for the Middle East -- were seized by the law enforcers from the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka in September and October this year.

It needs to be mentioned that Bangladesh does not produce any narcotics, and the syndicates smuggle in the amphetamine from India and yaba tablets from Myanmar, say investigators.

Rameshwar said in a majority of the cases, the senders' addresses were found to be fake.

"For this reason, we are recommending NID server access for couriers so that they can check the details and photographs of the senders before receiving any package," he said.

The DNC also suggested that couriers bring all their offices under CCTV camera surveillance, verify phone numbers of senders and share real-time information with law enforcers whenever any suspicious issues come to notice.

The recommendations were made at a workshop titled "Preventing narcotics smuggling through courier services and export cargo" organised by the DNC on December 13.

Representatives from the home ministry, police, Rab, National Security Intelligence, National Board of Revenue, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, Bangladesh Border Guard, Coast Guard, directorates of posts, and Ansar & VDP, Civil Aviation Authority, Chattogram and Mongla ports, Bangladesh Land Port Authority and chairman of the Licencing Authority (Mailing Operator and Courier Services) were present at the workshop.

Muhammed Ahsanul Jabbar, director general of DNC, shared the recommendations with the media on Tuesday.

He said they are committed to curbing the narcotics smuggling.

"We have found that couriers are being used to smuggle in yaba tablets, which is alarming. We are recommending providing NID server access for couriers, like banks, to verify sender information," said the DG.

At the workshop, the participants also requested the posts and telecommunications ministry to ban the activities of the couriers having no licence.

Hafizur Rahman Pulok, president of Courier Service Association of Bangladesh, told  yesterday that there are some 800 courier service operators in the country, but only 150 of them are registered with the association.

Of the 150 couriers, only 30 have government registration. So, it is really alarming how these couriers are operating without licences, he said.

Regarding the NID access, Pulok appreciated the recommendation and said it would definitely help improve the service and smuggling of contraband items would be reduced.

Brig Gen Mohammed Saidul Islam, director general of NID wing, told this correspondent that they are always ready for the optimum utilisation of the NID server for the country's betterment.

About the security threat, he said, "If any formal application comes to us, we will check their demands and how much information access they need. We will verify and evaluate their proposal and then we may make a decision."

"But we are positive and ready to provide any kind of support," he added.