Drug eradication requires collective effort: Home Affairs Adviser

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, emphasized the urgent need to combat corruption and drug abuse, calling them the two biggest enemies of society. He urged everyone to raise awareness about drug addiction and stressed that drug rehabilitation centers alone cannot solve the problem.

“Drugs should not be allowed to enter the country. We need information about those involved in drug trafficking,” he said. “Our brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters are all affected by drug addiction. The cost of rehabilitation is high, and many poor families cannot afford it. I hope no one has to go through rehabilitation.”

The advisor made these remarks during a press briefing on Wednesday, held after distributing financial aid checks to representatives of 32 private drug rehabilitation centers. The event marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

He recalled that phensedyl, once commonly given to children for stomach pain and identifiable by a snake image on the bottle, had become a widespread drug of abuse. “The number of drug addicts must gradually decrease. We must eradicate drugs from society by any means necessary,” he urged.

When asked why drug trafficking remains unresolved despite drugs entering the country from neighboring border states, he replied, “It’s not just a law enforcement issue. I have told Border Guard Bangladesh personnel that if someone in your family uses phensedyl, you’ll understand the gravity of the problem. Everyone must take responsibility.”