Cycle tour against drugs

Twenty-eight cyclists launched a road journey across the country with the slogan “Stay away from drugs, live a healthy life” to build up awareness among the people about the bad effects of taking drugs.

The cyclists, students of different institutions in Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur, left Kuakata for Pirojpur town on Monday after crossing Patuakhali town on Sunday.

Kaliakoir Municipality Mayor Md Majibur Rahman inaugurated the tour.

The team, led by Jamal Uddin, started the journey from Kharajor village under Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur on December 15 and reached Patuakhali on Sunday evening.

Jamal said 50 students formed a club named Bangladesh Cycle Tourists Club in 2010 and started their activities formally in 2013. Their main goal is to create awareness about the bad effects of taking drugs.

He said they have visited Faridpur, Madaripur, Barisal, Manikganj, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Kishoreganj, Sylhet, Tangail, Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur and 100 upazilas across the country on different occasions since 2013.

“During the tours, we visit educational institutions and exchange views with the students on the harmful effects of taking drugs,” Jamal Uddin said.

“We also go to bus stands and bazars on the way and distribute leaflets about the matter. We meet all expenses of the tours ourselves, hoping that we can help build a drug-free Bangladesh,” he added.

Team members Mahid, Aslam and Bulbul said they bought cycles with their own money and make the tours at their own expense to create awareness about the harmful effects of drugs.