Staff Correspondent

Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Advisor to the BNP Chairman, stated on Saturday that Bangladesh is currently facing a severe risk of narcotics infiltration due to its critical geographical position.

Speaking as the chief guest at an anti-drug rally held in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday, he urged the government, law enforcement agencies, political parties, social organizations, and general citizens to forge a united resistance to counter the drug menace.

The rally was organized by the Anti-Drug Society to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. In his address, Alal explained that Bangladesh is geographically situated right between Asia's three primary drug production and trafficking zones, which are the Golden Triangle (comprising Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand), the Golden Crescent (spanning Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan), and the Golden Wedge. Consequently, international drug smuggling syndicates are increasingly exploiting the country as a strategic transit route.

Other speakers at the rally expressed deep concern over the rising influx of illegal substances and called for significantly strengthening surveillance along the national borders to choke smuggling routes.

They demanded exemplary punishment and strict legal actions against drug traffickers and network operators. Furthermore, the speakers stressed the urgent need to launch effective, nationwide awareness campaigns and creative engagement programs to shield the youth from the devastating impacts of substance abuse.

The rally was presided over by the President of the Anti-Drug Society, Md. Al Hadi, and moderated by its General Secretary, Zakir Hossain.

A large number of representatives from various social and political organizations, along with conscious citizens, participated in the event.

Among others who addressed the gathering were Syed Tosharraf Ali, Advisory Editor of The New Nation, Jahangir Alam Pradhan, former General Secretary of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), teacher leader Professor Shafiqul Islam, and Principal A S M Mostafa Kamal, Chairman of the National Human Rights Council. Other organizational leaders, including S M Tajul Islam, Pradip Kumar Pal, Tofazzal Hossain Fuad, M H Prince, Kazi Abir Aslam, Ayatullah Aktar, and Motiur Rahman, also spoke on the occasion.