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The government is planning to set up separate prisons for drug addicts in every division, says Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
He also said that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a project to build drug rehabilitation centres in seven divisional cities, reports bdnews24.com.
He spoke at an event organised to observe the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” in the capital on Wednesday.
Mentioning the development of the country is being hindered by the “invasion” of drugs, the adviser said: "The main development factor in a country is a huge youth force that is capable of working. If we want to become a developed and successful nation in the future, we must keep this young community free of drugs."
“People from different backgrounds in the country are falling prey to drugs in many ways. The horrid side of drug dealing in the country is that women and children are being used in this heinous act. Hence, they get ensnared in criminal activities, and a large group of them become drug addicts.”
The home ministry, women and children welfare ministry and social welfare ministry have been working together to resolve the issue, he said.
In 1987, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe Jun 26, as the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” aiming to create widespread public awareness about the negative effects of drugs, reduce the illicit demand for drugs, and to build a social movement against drug abuse.
The day is observed globally and also in Bangladesh with various programmes throughout the following year.
Jahangir said, “With the development of technology, the emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs in different countries has further intensified the issues of drug abuse and illegal trafficking. We have to form new strategies to deal with these new drugs.”
“All law enforcing agencies and intelligence agencies are alert about new types of drugs and continue to take initiatives to prevent their spread.”
The existing government is “committed” to protecting the country and its people from the “gruesome grip” of drugs, he said.
“In a country with a population of about 180 million, 2,943 people are currently employed in the Narcotics Control Department. Of them, 1,622 are engaged in enforcement.”
“The Narcotics Control Department is conducting its activities nationwide with the support of 64 district offices, one special zone, eight divisional intelligence offices and eight divisional offices.”
Comparing the workforce of other agencies working to curb crime, this number is “limited” and the agency lacks vehicles as well as the necessary equipment and advanced materials to conduct operations, the adviser said.
“The ongoing efforts of the Narcotics Control Department and the home ministry will continue to resolve these problems,” the adviser said.