Call of duty defeats flavour of festivity

Local youths under the banner of Youth for Better Society bring out a cycle procession in Saghata upazila under Gaibandha district as part of their awareness campaign against drug and tobacco yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

It was a different day for them.

When everybody was enjoying the Eid festival, they had no time to waste as they were promise-bound to do something for the society.

A group of dedicated youths of Saghata upazila, who vowed to root out the silent serpent of drug, went out on their bikes and brought out an anti-drug and anti-tobacco procession in the town yesterday.

They made man to man contact to spread a message and create awareness against the evil of drug that has been silently killing our young generation for the last several years.

The event was organised by Youth for Better Society (YBS), a local voluntary body of devoted students of schools, colleges and universities who want to build a drug free society and create awareness among the youths in the upazila.

Addressed by the Upazila Chairman Golam Shaheed Ranju, a discussion meeting was held at Bonarpara Kazi Azher Ali Model High School ground prior to the start of the procession. President of the organisation Khondoker Shahdat Hossain and other prominent members of the local society were also present at the function.

The speakers at the meeting said despite frantic efforts and steps taken by the law enforcers, drug addiction, particularly among the youths were spreading alarmingly. The speakers also emphasised the need for appropriate laws to control smuggling of drugs.

Hundreds of cyclists from different institutions joined the procession and paraded Bonarpar Bazar, Ullah Sonatola, Jadurtair, Jharabarsha and Shaghata Bazar area and concluded their programme with a boat race competition on Jamuna River.