JS body asks govt to show zero tolerance to drugs:Daily Sun

 Expressing grave concern over the spread of drugs, a parliamentary watchdog on Sunday recommended that the government show zero tolerance to drug traffickers in a bid to build resistance against the contraband items. The parliamentary standing committee on home ministry came up with the recommendation during its meeting at parliament secretariat. Committee members, including state minister for ho
me Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Mozammel Hossain, Shamsul Haque Tuku, Omar Faruque Chowdhury, Abul Kalam Azad, Fakhrul Imam and Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury, attended the meeting with Tipu Munshi in the chair. The meeting was told that contraband items have been smuggled into the country through different bordering areas. People of all ages are becoming habituated to illegal drugs. Sources said lawmakers at the meeting expressed concern as even imams of mosques and teachers are getting engaged in drug dealing. Citing media reports, they asked the government to take necessary steps to raise mass awareness of the use of illegal drugs and their bad impacts. Faruque said some Islamic scholars are engaged in the trade in his constituency. Former minister Tuku suggested that the ministry strengthen its monitoring to check drug smuggling. Tipu said imams of various mosques and teachers of schools, colleges and madrasas are even getting engaged in plying the trade. “Public representatives and administration should come forward to stop drug smuggling.” Taking the issue into consideration, the committee advised a three-member parliamentary subcommittee, headed by Omar Faruque, to visit bordering areas and place a detailed report on smuggled items.