BSS, Dhaka :
Drug addiction stands out as a problem not for the addict alone and his or her family, but a curse in a society and also a nation since drug abuse is linked to crimes, premature unnatural deaths and economic losses of a country.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque made the remark on Saturday while talking to BSS at his office here. “If the demand for drug goes down, its supply will automatically remain low leading to a considerable decline in the rate of crimes as well as other problems,” he said.
In this respect, he stressed the need for creating social awareness about the negative impact of drug abuse as it is the moral obligation of all individuals, family, society, NGOs and the policy-makers. “All in every sphere of life must supplement the government’s efforts to curb this vice and family and community support is very important in this regard,” he said.
The IGP said the law enforcement agencies have been working relentlessly to stop drug smuggling. “Unless we curb the demand for illicit drug, we can never fully stop its supply, production or trafficking. Police is conducting anti-drug operations and arresting drug smugglers across the country,” he said.
Hoque said all members of the Bangladesh police force, demonstrating their humanitarian gesture, have already floated a fund donating their one-day salary for the rehabilitation and treatment of the insolvent drug addicts in a bid to establish a drug-free society.
“We have, in principle, formulated a guideline for operating the fund to ensure transparency and accountability through separate committees at the levels of Police Headquarters, Metropolitan Cities, Anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the districts. We have initially created a fund of more than Taka Nine rpt 9 crore for the insolvent drug addicts’ treatment in the country,” he added.
The IGP said each committee would scrutiny all applications of drug addicts and verify their reasons for the cost of treatment. “But the civil society must come forward to aware the young generation at the grassroots, although we have community policing in this regard,” he said.
According to a fund-related guideline of Bangladesh police published this year, although Bangladesh does not produce drugs, the country has long been used as a transit for illicit drug trafficking due to its geographical location.
Drug addiction stands out as a problem not for the addict alone and his or her family, but a curse in a society and also a nation since drug abuse is linked to crimes, premature unnatural deaths and economic losses of a country.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque made the remark on Saturday while talking to BSS at his office here. “If the demand for drug goes down, its supply will automatically remain low leading to a considerable decline in the rate of crimes as well as other problems,” he said.
In this respect, he stressed the need for creating social awareness about the negative impact of drug abuse as it is the moral obligation of all individuals, family, society, NGOs and the policy-makers. “All in every sphere of life must supplement the government’s efforts to curb this vice and family and community support is very important in this regard,” he said.
The IGP said the law enforcement agencies have been working relentlessly to stop drug smuggling. “Unless we curb the demand for illicit drug, we can never fully stop its supply, production or trafficking. Police is conducting anti-drug operations and arresting drug smugglers across the country,” he said.
Hoque said all members of the Bangladesh police force, demonstrating their humanitarian gesture, have already floated a fund donating their one-day salary for the rehabilitation and treatment of the insolvent drug addicts in a bid to establish a drug-free society.
“We have, in principle, formulated a guideline for operating the fund to ensure transparency and accountability through separate committees at the levels of Police Headquarters, Metropolitan Cities, Anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the districts. We have initially created a fund of more than Taka Nine rpt 9 crore for the insolvent drug addicts’ treatment in the country,” he added.
The IGP said each committee would scrutiny all applications of drug addicts and verify their reasons for the cost of treatment. “But the civil society must come forward to aware the young generation at the grassroots, although we have community policing in this regard,” he said.
According to a fund-related guideline of Bangladesh police published this year, although Bangladesh does not produce drugs, the country has long been used as a transit for illicit drug trafficking due to its geographical location.
