'Drug addiction root cause of 60 percent crimes'

18 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Drug addiction is the root cause of over 60 percent of total crime incidents in the country, and is causing most of the incurable fatal diseases like AIDS, speakers said at a seminar in the city yesterday. They made the comment at the seminar on creating awareness about harmful effects and legal provisions regarding narcotics at Stamford University auditorium in Siddeswari. Mujibur Rahman Patwary, deputy director of the Department of Narcotics Control (Dhaka Metro Sub-zone), said drug is the main enemy of the youth that count 40 percent of total population of the country. Drugs are taken in different styles, but it is most alarming when those are taken in groups using a same syringe, he said adding incurable diseases are spreading fast through such addicts at different points of the city. AKM Shahidul Hoque, commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said despite frantic efforts, law enforces could not contain the use of drugs due to lack of proper motivations by the families of the addicts. The police officer said lessons on traffic rules and bad effects of drugs should be taught at schools. Acknowledging that incidents of stalking are on the rise, Krishnopada Roy, deputy commissioner of the DMP (Ramna Zone), said there should have a social movement apart from the efforts of the law enforces against stalkers. Prof MH Hannan Feroze, president of board of trustees of the university, presided over the seminar addressed by its Vice-chancellor Prof M Mujibur Rahman, among others.