Local political leaders as well as common people have hailed the initiative for dope test to screen out drug addict nomination seekers in the upcoming Pabna district council of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
“The student leaders have to be fresh and healthy so that they can lead properly. So it is a good initiative to conduct health test before their selection as leaders,” State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku said after inauguration of the blood test programme at Pabna General Hospital as the chief guest on Sunday.
“Thirty-five BCL men have undergone the blood test. We have taken the exceptional initiative to examine the health of aspirants in the council as we want fit and healthy students in BCL leadership,” said Md Mostak Azad, secretary of BCL Pabna district unit committee.
The district unit council of BCL will be held on May 2 after seven years while the councils of upazila, poura and Edward College units will be held on April 22 and 24, BCL sources said, adding that the BCL aspirants will have to show medical fitness certificates to draw their nomination papers.
“We have tested them for the drug related viruses in blood. B Virus, C virus and such other viral diseases were tested. Samples were sent to Dhaka for nicotine test as Pabna General Hospital does not have that facility," said Bikash Ranjan, medical technologist of the hospital.
"The initiative will help to select proper leadership. We will try to continue the process," said Pabna district unit AL Vice President Md Saidul Haque Chunnu.
“I have participated in the blood test programme because I am an aspirant in the upcoming BCL council,” said Mostafizur Rahman Rassel, a district unit BCL leader.