The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is going to be observed in Bangladesh like elsewhere in the world today, June 26.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) nearly 200 million people are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina gave separate messages to mark the day.
In his message on the eve of the day, President Hamid said along with the execution of the stringent law, launching social movement against drug abuse is now a demand of time to save our future generation from the aggression of the drugs.
The President also has called upon all the conscious people irrespective of classes and professions including parents, teachers, religious and political leaders, players and sports personalities to contribute to the social movement.
Although Bangladesh is not a drug producing country, but the country is not free from its abuse, said the President adding that “emergence of new drugs everyday in the country and its multi-dimensional uses have made the drug problem more difficult.”
Even the promising young generation is going to astray being addicted with drugs and it is hampering our expected family peace, social stability and economic growth, said the President.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message said “our government has ensured farm execution of the drugs related law to save the country as well as the nation from the deadly claws of the drugs.” Special importance also has been given to the anti-drug campaign, said the PM. Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for proper execution of the related law against the spreading of drugs throughout the world including Bangladesh , creation of social awareness and expediting the anti-drug movement.
The youths and the oung generation are the main target of the drug addiction, said the PM, adding that “It is irreparable loss for the country as well as for the nation as several hundred thousands of youths are being lost their energy, intelligence and creativity due to the drug addiction.”
“I urge the people of the society irrespective of their classes and professions including non-government organizations, teachers, imams of mosques and parents to come forward, along with the government, for a solution to the problem.” She said.
In December 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The UN was determined to help create an international society free of drug abuse.
