'We will make Netrakona drug-free'

'Drug is your mother's tears and your father's deep sigh'. Wall writings like this ion Netrakona town by the Conscious Young Generation impressed many but not the law enforces.. PHOTO: STAR

But some groups of youngsters under the banner of Conscious Young Generation have raised a hope. They have launched a campaign against drug use.

In the last few days, they held several gatherings and processions in different areas of Netrakona town and launched an anti-drug campaign through wall writing and postering. They also song anti-drug songs and ogranised drama to create awareness among the people.

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But the campaigners say drug trading is rising as police are playing a mysterious role. Police say they have launched anti-drug raids and arrested 25 drug addicts and traders in last one month. But the campaigners say it is only an eyewash.

"It is mysterious that police arrest drug addicts but traders and peddlers are doing their business. Is it possible to run the business without the knowledge of police?", a campaigner who is a college student told this correspondent.

The campaigners claim that about 30 per cent of youths are addicted to drug like phensidyl, hemp, country made wine, Indian wine and heroin, smuggled in almost openly. Most of the drug addicts are youths, students and political activists.

The drugs flow in through numerous border points in Kalmakanda and Durgapur upazilas. Gobindapur, Langura, Baruakona, Panchgao and Moheshkola in Kalmakanda and Gopalpur, Bijoypur, Ranikong and Barmari in Durgapur are safe points for smugglers, local people say.

The drugs smuggled allegedly in connivance with a section of border guards are then supplied to the ten upazilas of the district.

The drug trading spots in Netrakona town are known to all. Just after sunset, young addicts and peddlers flock to Garuhatta, old court building premises at Muktarpara, Baro-Pukurar Par at New Town and BADC building premises at North Satpai. The trading continues on the nose of law enforcers, it is alleged by local people.

The campaigners say they have at least created a social awareness against drug use. Its use will reduce if smuggling is stopped and law enforcers really want to arrest drug traders and peddlers, some of the campaigners said. "They can do it easily", one of them said.

They also visit houses of addicts and campaign against drug use.

But it is tragedy that law-enforcing agencies do not respond adequate to our efforts, Shahidul Ialsm, a leader of the campaigners said.

"But we believe we will be able to make Netrakona a drug-free district", he said.