DHAKA, Feb 27, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister and Leader of the House
Sheikh Hasina today said the government would rehabilitate the drug dealers on
their surrenders.
“Many drug peddlers are surrendering due to (nationwide) massive
awareness campaign … Financial assistance will be given to them for their
rehabilitation,” she said while replying to a supplementary from
opposition lawmaker Dr Rustom Ali Farazi.
The premier requested all including parents to join hand in the campaign
to make people aware about the adverse impact of the drug abuse, saying, “The parents should remain alert against those with whom their children are mixing.”
Sheikh Hasina called upon the lawmakers to take necessary initiatives at their
respective constituencies as none can be drug addicted.
She stressed the need for creating social movement against drugs likewise
militancy to save the nation from the curse of drugs.
Referring to Narcotics Control Act, 2018, she said that there is a provision
of giving highest punishment to those, who are involved in trading and
smuggling of drugs.
The premier has reiterated her government’s firm determination to pursue the
‘zero tolerance policy’ against illegal drugs to free the young generation
from deadly aggression of drug abuse.
Replying to a scripted question from the treasury bench Mahfuzur Rahman from
Chittagong-3 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad, she also said, “Various
programmes have been taken under a pragmatic plan to free the society from
(illegal) drugs.”
Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, said that they have already
taken various measures and planned to take more initiatives to effectively
fight the drug menace.
On measures already taken to this end, she said, “The regular drive to recover
and prevent drugs is going on and the ongoing drive of the police will be
continued in the future alongside with pursuing the ‘zero tolerance policy’
against (illegal) drugs.”
Law enforcing agencies have filed 1,19,878 cases so far and arrested 1,61,323
accused in the cases in 2018, she said adding that as part of the campaign to
create awareness about the adverse impact of the drugs, a total of 35,85,796
leaflets, 1,83,148 stickers, 10,17,171 posters, 1,2,802 bulletin have so far
been distributed and 64,436 anti-drug meetings have been held .
Cases are now being filed by the mobile courts alongside with filing the
regular cases, she also said.
The numbers of drug rehabilitation centres have been increased to 276 instead
of 64 while as part of the measures to upgrade the centres from 50 beds to
250, and the centres have already been developed to 100 beds in this respect.
Three divisional drug rehabilitation centres have been made 25 beds instead of
5 as part of the plan of developing those to 200 beds, she continued.
Regarding future plan to fight drugs, Sheikh Hasina, said, “Necessary measures
have already been completed to set up anti-drug special zone at Teknaf. Four
testing laboratories for Narcotics Control Department would also be set up at
four divisional cities.”
Expansion and modernization of the 250-bed Dhaka Central Rehabilitation Centre
having facilities of training for physicians and nurses will be made, she
informed.
An international standard training academy for Narcotics Control Department
will also be set up to create specialized manpower for the organization, she
also said.
The government will set up 200-bed drug rehabilitation centres at seven
divisional cities for treatment of drug addicts while 100-bed rehabilitation
centres will be set up at greater districts and drug prone districts while 50
beds rehabilitation centres will be built in the remaining districts.
Financial assistance will be given to private rehabilitation centres, she
added.