Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said that a country’s progress hinges on its active, skilled, and drug-free youth population. He stressed that without freeing the younger generation from the grip of drug abuse, Bangladesh cannot move towards becoming a developed nation.

“An educated and technically skilled youth force is essential for a country’s advancement,” he said. “Whenever this nation faced inequality, injustice, or moral crises, it was the youth who stood united and led resistance movements. The July uprising by students, youths, and the masses was a testament to that spirit.”

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion programme held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, organised by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025.

The event was chaired by DNC Director General Md Hasan Maruf, with Md Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Home Affairs, and Nasimul Ghani, Senior Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, present as special guests.

In his speech, the adviser expressed concern over the increasing involvement of women, children, and adolescents in drug trafficking in Bangladesh. “This not only raises their susceptibility to addiction but also fosters criminal tendencies among these vulnerable groups,” he said.

He also pointed to the growing global threat posed by synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, noting that technological advancement has introduced new forms of narcotics that demand updated strategies and enforcement models. “We must develop new operational plans to combat these emerging drugs,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury said the devastating impact of drug addiction is most deeply felt by families with addicted members. “Social resistance to drug abuse has diminished in recent years. We must strengthen community engagement and take stronger, more effective measures to protect individuals, families, and society from the dangers of drugs,” he said.

Senior Secretary Nasimul Ghani noted that narcotics are not produced in Bangladesh but enter the country through trafficking from neighbouring nations. “These drugs are wreaking havoc on our youth. To stop this, we must cut off the supply routes,” he said, adding that law enforcement in border districts must be more vigilant and community involvement must be increased.

A documentary on the efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking was screened during the programme.

To mark the day, the adviser inaugurated a day-long campaign by releasing balloons and visited anti-drug stalls set up by various private rehabilitation centres. He also handed out awards to winners of a student essay and art competition, representatives of the top three private rehab centres, and two institutions recognised for their contributions to anti-drug campaigns, awareness-building, and research.