Govt. to show zero tolerance toward illegal drug traders: Asaduzzaman

SANGSAD BHABAN, Mar 05, 2014 (BSS)-The government will continue showing zero tolerance toward illegal drug trading as the authorities have instructed the concerned agencies, including department of narcotics control, police and RAB, to take stern measures against traffickers to curb illegal trade and use of drugs in the country. 

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan told this while replying to a question from treasury bench member Morshed Alam in the Jatiya Sangsad today. 

The minister said a total of 40,250 cases were filed against 47531 illegal drug traffickers across the country in 2013. The law enforcers seized 123.7295-kg heroin, 34,997.543-kg hashish, 9,87,076 bottles and 857.55 liters of phensidyle and 28,21,528 pieces of yaba tablet during the period, he added. 

He also informed the House that a move to amend the Narcotics Control Act, 1990 and make it time befitting is underway. A total of 12000 committees have already been formed at educational institutes to create awareness among students about the illegal use of drugs, he added. 

The government has no data about drug addicts in the country, the minister said and added that the number of drug addicts is on the rise in the country. He said the government has taken various measures to bring the drug addicts back to the mainstream of society. There are three drug addict treatment and rehabilitation centres in Dhaka and two other divisional headquarters, he said. Besides, there are also 89 private drug addict treatment centres across the country. 

He said the government has a plan to set up drug addict treatment centre at district level.

Source: http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=7&id=394032&date=2014-03-05