Experts warn that 70 lakh people in Bangladesh are addicted to drugs, costing 1 lakh crore taka. Urgent action is needed to prevent further youth devastation.
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| A seminar at Bangladesh University highlights the alarming rise in drug abuse, urging government and community action to curb its widespread social impact. Image: BU |
Dhaka, Bangladesh — February 2, 2025:
Drug addiction is emerging as one of the most serious threats to Bangladesh, with approximately 7 million people consuming narcotics worth an estimated 1 lakh crore taka, experts warned at a seminar held at Bangladesh University. The seminar, titled "Role of Young Society in Drug Addiction and Drug Prevention," was organized jointly by Dream Bangladesh Foundation and Bangladesh University, with support from the university’s Business Administration Department and Business Club.
Speakers at the event described drug addiction as a severe disease, comparable to AIDS, cancer, and heart disease, but even more destructive in terms of social impact. They highlighted how drug abuse is leading to the moral degradation of young people, breaking family ties, and fueling social unrest.
Deputy Director (Detective) of the Narcotics Control Directorate, Dhaka Division, Khorshed Chanchal, warned that drug addiction is pushing the younger generation toward destruction. "From cities to villages, schools to universities, drugs are available everywhere. This epidemic is shattering families, eroding trust, and creating new fears in society," he said.
Professor Aruparatan Chowdhury, President of the Narcotics and Narcotics Control Organization (MANS), stressed that drug addiction is a complex, multidimensional problem requiring a collective effort for eradication. "A large section of the country’s youth is now addicted to yaba and ice. Even school and college students are falling victim. Without coordinated social resistance, drug control is impossible," he added, urging action from the government, NGOs, teachers, religious leaders, and civil society.
Other speakers revealed that the estimated financial impact of drug addiction is about a quarter of Bangladesh’s total budget and 56% of its development budget. They likened drugs to nuclear weapons in their destructive potential, warning that millions of young people are losing their futures to addiction. Many families are suffering due to marital discord linked to substance abuse, while society and the state bear the long-term consequences.
Acting Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University, Prof. Jahangir Alam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to fighting drug abuse. He emphasized the institution’s initiatives to create a drug-free and smoke-free campus, pledging further steps to protect students. "Our priority is to guide students away from drug addiction. A university should be a place of growth, not destruction," he stated.
Following the discussions, an anti-drug rally was held on campus, with participation from students, faculty members, university officials, and invited guests. The event aimed to raise awareness and encourage young people to take a stand against drug abuse.
As drug addiction continues to spread across Bangladesh, the seminar underscored the urgent need for national and community-driven interventions to prevent further devastation among the youth.