29,000 academic bodies work to mobilise anti-narcotics public opinion

As many as 29,000 anti-narcotic committees in various educational institutions up to degree level have been working to drum up public opinion against drugs aimed at mainly saving the new generation from abuse of narcotics.

The sincere effort has assumed a further pace since June 3 last as the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) initiated a nationwide anti-narcotic campaign to support the ongoing massive crackdown on people involved in drug related offences as part of the government’s “zero tolerance policy” against drugs.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has inaugurated the campaign as the chief guest from a programme held at Siddheswari campus of Stamford University on June 3.

The DNC has initiated the move with a view to gearing up a movement involving all the stakeholders of the society with the belief that it would not be possible to free the nation from drug abuse only through conducting crackdowns on drug peddlers and their patrons.

As part of the intensified anti-narcotic campaign, the DNC has started distributing 40,000 festoons inscribed with various slogans and adverse impacts of taking drugs among the educational institutions, said a DNC official.

Besides, the anti-narcotics committees in educational institutes have set for holding various awareness programmes such as holding meetings, seminars and bringing out colourful processions against drugs upon completion of summer and Eid vacations, he also said.

“We have started the nationwide awareness campaign involving the educational institutions on June 3 to make the new generation aware about the harmful impact of taking drugs mainly to keep them away from drugs,” DNC Director General (DG) Mohammod Jamal Uddin Ahmed told BSS earlier.

The DNC chief said that they are trying to involve all the social powers in the awareness campaign aimed at waging a vibrant social movement against the abuse of narcotics.

“Anti-narcotic committees in schools, colleges and madrasas up to the degree level have been entrusted with conducting the campaign across the country. It will help reduce the demand of drugs among students manifold,” he added.

“Only drives against narcotic cannot stop the social menace until and unless a social movement is raised against it, so the drives and awareness campaigns will be continued,” he opined.

“As part of the campaign, the DNC has started distributing 40,000 festoons inscribed with the adverse impacts of taking drugs, among the schools, colleges and madrasas,” DNC Deputy Director (preventive education) Rabiul Islam said.

He also said that over 29000 anti-narcotic committees formed at different educational institutions by DNC will mainly carry out the campaign across the country.

Another Deputy Director (Dhaka metro) of DNC Mukul Jyoti Chakma said that they have already sent letters to educational institutions through the Education Ministry to take appropriate measures in conducting the anti-narcotic awareness campaign.

He said that they also requested the University Grants Commission (UGC) to conduct such campaigns at educational institutions under it.

In Dhaka metropolis, 193 anti-narcotic committees will carry out the campaign, he added.

The government took the move in 2009 with forming 5,779 committees first when the students were getting increasingly inclined towards taking drugs and other narcotic substances.

The five-member committee is headed by chief of the concerned institution with its physical or religious teacher as the member secretary. Three other members of the committees comprise a teachers’ representative, a guardian, and a student.