Debate for Democracy
Government is going to revise the Narcotics Control Act soon to address the emerging risks and issues within legal framework. In addition of legal action, social mobilization is must to stop the misuse of drugs. Salahuddin Mahmud, Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control said this while he was addressing in an anti-drug debate competition in BFDC organised by Debate for Democracy recently. Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron, Chairman of the Debate for Democracy presided over the session. Director General emphasized on media role for creating awareness against misuse of drugs. He appreciated debate completion as effective tool for knowledge sharing on misuse of drugs and its consequence. In address of chair, Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said that taking narcotic can not be a symbol of smartness rather this is the first step for destroying the life. He sought parental role for keeping the youths from narcotics. Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh and Khulna University took part in the debate competition.
National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways
National Committee urges River Safety across the country The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways, a nongovernment citizens’ rights body on Monday expressed deep concern overpassengers carrier water vessels accidents at different places of the country, including accident at Swandip in Chittagong, urged the government to ensure river safety across the country immediately.The committee adviser and veteran politician Manzurul Ahsan Khan and general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey made the demand in a joint statement to all the concerned authorities. The NCPSRR statement said that proper supervision is yet to be seen in the waterways in spite of beginning natural calamities like storm and nor’wester. Lack of dutifulness of concerned administrations, river accidents and causalities has been taking place, the statement said. The recent accidents include a red boat (a kind of local made mechanized boat) capsized on Monday in the Bay coast near Swandip ghat of Kumira (Guptachhara) to Swandip route where at least four people were killed and 10 to 12 others missing, speedboat capsized in Moheshkhali channel near Parabon on Cox’s Bazar to Moheshkhali route where a housewife remained missing, on March 30, a trawler capsized in Megna River near Charkishorganj at Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj on Dhaka (Rampura) to Chandpur route, where at least 18 bodies were rescued and on March 28 another trawler capsized in Panguchhi river at Morelganj upazial of Bagerhat where at least 18 bodies were recovered and another still missing.
The leaders of the national committee blamed irresponsibility’s of properauthorities and whimsical behaviors of vessels’ drivers and masters for these
fatal accidents. In the statement, the NCPSRR leaders have prayed eternal peace of the departed souls and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
They have urged the all concerned quarters, including government, to pay
proper compensation to the deceased families and taking effective action to
avoid waterway accidents.
