Call for social movement to fight drug abuse, trafficking
Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin yesterday said drug abuse and its illicit trafficking is a major problem which cannot be resolved only by enforcing laws and issuing threat of punishment.
Side by side applying laws, the home adviser underscored the need for waging a massive social movement and creating awareness against drug abuse to root out the menace from the personal life, family and the society.
"Awareness should be created in every individual, while the head of every family must have to be alert in order to fight the problem effectively," he told a function organised by the Department of Narcotics Control at the Jatiya Natyashala auditorium in the city to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Drug abuse is not an internal problem of Bangladesh rather it is a transnational one where developed countries are unable to keep them above the problem, he added.
"Different preventive measures in this regard have proved to be futile as the deadly drug and its economy cost are having a corrosive effect on the society through many newly invented means," he said, adding drugs are hampering social tranquility and stability.
To manage money for drugs, the home adviser said desperate users involve themselves in various crimes that are a constant threat to the country's law and order situation.
"Drugs have eaten into the vitals of the human lives, especially of the younger generation resulting in 40 crore people addicts worldwide," he said, adding that the turnover from drug business is amounted at $400 billion per year.
Listing a number of steps taken by the government, Matin called on all to come forward and play an active role to win the fight against drug abuse and its illicit trafficking.
To observe the day, different organisations chalked out programmes aiming at motivating the people, especially the younger generation to refrain from using drugs.
Jatiya Ganatantrik League at a discussion at its office urged the government to provide an alternative agricultural production facility for those who are involved in drug production in the country.
The United Nations and the developed countries should grant subsidy for alternative food production to stop drug production and illicit trafficking, it added.
Bangladesh Nari Mukti Andolon also organised a discussion at its office at Lalmatia stressing the need for a halt to drug production unitedly through alternative food production.
Presided over by its President Fatema Khatun, the speakers at the discussion said women in poor families are more vulnerable as most of the drug abusers are male and they have a tendency to repress their wives for money.
This year the day has been observed with the slogan 'Do drugs control your life? No place of drugs in your life and community.'
Ahban, a drug addiction rehabilitation centre, organised a seminar and brought out a procession to give due importance on the issue of public awareness and its impact on the young generation at Shanta Mariam University of Creative Technology at Uttara.
Marking the day, a rally was also held in front of the Brac University followed by a discussion.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) organised a press conference at the National Press Club titled 'Drug Addiction, Treatment and Rehabilitation: Bangladesh Perspective' on the occasion.
DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam and former inspector general of police Dr M Enamul Huq addressed the press conference.
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