RAJSHAHI, Sept 1, 2021 (BSS) - Inclusion of anti-drug topics in training modules of the public institutions can be the best ways of creating mass-awareness against drug abuse to save people, particularly the youths, from drug-addiction.

Experts and development activists came up with the observation while addressing an advocacy meeting with GOB training providing agencies at Hotel Warisan Chinese Restaurant in Rajshahi city on Tuesday afternoon.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) hosted the meeting under the 'Drug Abuse Resistance and Understanding (DARAU)' project being implemented with joint partnership of Light House Consortium.

Counterpart International has been implementing the project in Rajshahi and Natore districts under the 'Promoting Advocacy and Rights (PAR)' programme with financial support of USAID and FCDO.

The meeting sensitized the training providing agencies for strengthening their training and education curriculum through adding time-fitting content on adverse effects of drug abuse and its prevention.

Additional Director of the Department of Narcotics Control Zafrullah Kajal and Chief Executive of Light House Harun-Or-Rashid addressed the meeting as focal persons, while former Chairman of Rajshahi Education Board Prof Dipakendra Nath Das was in the chair.

DARAU Project Manager Subrata Kumar Paul gave an overview of the project, demonstrating its aims, objectives and implementation strategy in his keynote presentation, while DAM Advocacy Officer welcomed the participants.

Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Development Golam Mahbub, Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Shirin Sobnom, Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services Dr Abdullah Al Firoj and DAM Project Manager Riaz Uddin, among others, also spoke.

In his remarks, Zafrullah Kajal said the present government has zero tolerance against drug-addiction and urged all quarters to come forward to protect the young generation from grip of the social crime.

“We have to build a healthy society to achieve sustainable development goals,” he said, adding the movement against drug abuse should be turned into a social movement. He urged all concerned to work along with the government to prevent drug abuse.

Harun-Or-Rashid told the meeting that cross-sections of people including women, parents, school and out-of-school children, adolescents, youth, transgender, public representatives and members of the civil society are being engaged in the anti-drug abuse campaign.

He said the project is intended to benefiting around four lakh people either directly or indirectly.