Myanmar talks a lot but does nothing on drugs: Home Minister

Stating that drugs are coming through the remote border of Bangladesh with Myanmar, Asaduzzaman Khan said, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is being strengthened to stop drugs coming through the border. There are also remote areas where it used to take seven days for the BGB to go from one BOP to another. Now it takes one day to go from one BOP to another in these areas. For this, surveillance is being done using helicopters. Measures are being taken to install sensors to identify which borders are being infiltrated.

Stating that there are 7.5 to 8 million (7.5 to 8 million) drug addicts in the country, Asaduzzaman Khan said, 48 percent of the total drug addicts are educated. 57 percent of the drug addicts are sex offenders. Most of the people in prison are drug traffickers or drug dealers. 80 percent of drug addicts are young people.

The Home Minister also mentioned that initiatives have been taken to further strengthen the Narcotics Control Department. He said that changes have been made in the organizational structure of the department and manpower has been increased. The Narcotics Control Act, 2018 and other rules have been amended to make them up-to-date. The Alcohol Control Rules-2022 have been formulated. The work of constructing testing labs in four divisional cities is in the final stage.

Speaking as a special guest at the discussion meeting, Shamsul Haque Tuku, chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs, said, "The government has taken specific steps to make the society free from drugs and smoking. Strict laws have been enacted. Now the demand has to be reduced. If the demand cannot be reduced, it cannot be controlled. Strict action must be taken against those who are bringing drugs from outside the country."

In a special guest speech, Mokabbir Hossain, Secretary of the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said that if someone in the family is addicted to drugs, they should not hide it and should be treated. Along with clinical treatment, relatives and friends should be by their side.

It is worth noting that in 1987, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and this day has been celebrated all over the world since 1988. This year, the theme of this day is 'Prevent drug abuse, build a healthy and beautiful life'.

The event, organized by the Narcotics Control Department, was presided over by Azizul Islam, Director General (Additional Charge) of the Narcotics Control Department.