Pledge not to take, peddle drugs

A laudable step taken by the district police has helped 72 drug peddlers and addicts to return to normal life.

Patuakhali police arranged a meeting to mark the event at Sheikh Russel Children's Park in the town yesterday.

Chief guest Deputy Inspector General of Police, Barisal Range, Md Shafiqul Islam welcomed the former peddlers and addicts to the meeting by giving flowers to them.

At the meeting, they all took an oath that they will not peddle or take drugs in future.

Police also gave sewing machines to 10 of them to create job opportunities.

The meeting was presided over by Superintendent of Police in the district Syed Moshfiqur Rahman. Deputy Commisioner Dr Md Masumur Rahman, Kalapara Upazila Parishad Chairman  Md Motaleb Talukder, Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman advocate Tarikzzaman Moni, acting Secretary of district unit Awami League Kazi Alamgir Hossain, Kalapara Municipality Mayor Bipul Chandra Hawlader, and Patuakhali Press Club Secretary Muftee Salah Uddin, among others, addressed the meeting.

The initiative taken by the police is very different and it should be taken everywhere to save the society and the country from the curse of drugs, speakers said at the meeting.

Earlier, an-anti drug cycle rally went around the town. The rally started from Patuakhali police lines and ended at Sheikh Russel Children's Park at 3:00pm.