Mostafa Kamal Pasha, BNP lawmaker for the Chittagong-3 (Sandwip) constituency, has revealed that many of his party’s leaders and activists have become involved in drug trade, urging them to immediately step away from the illicit path.
Warning that zero tolerance will be shown towards narcotics, the lawmaker said no concessions will be made for anyone in eradicating drugs, regardless of their party identity, position, or kinship.
He made these remarks as the chief guest at a street rally organised in Sandwip on Tuesday to mark the founding anniversary of BNP.
The event was presided over by Member Secretary of Sandwip Upazila BNP Alomgir Hossain Thaqur, and attended by local leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliate organisations.
Addressing the gathering, Pasha emphasised the need for orderly conduct now that the party is in power.
“Today, our party is in power. We must conduct ourselves in a disciplined manner,” he said. “A number of our leaders and activists have become involved in the drug trade; we must rescue ourselves from this. We want to banish drugs from Sandwip,” he added.
He emphasised that protecting the younger generation from the devastating clutches of drugs is a moral responsibility of both society and political parties.
Pasha declared that kinship or political affiliation would not be a barrier to drug eradication. “Whether it is my brother, my ‘brother’, or my relative, we will spare no one,” he warned.
The lawmaker stressed the importance of extending anti-drug initiatives to the union level. To achieve this, he directed the convener and member secretary of Upazila BNP to take immediate and effective measures.
He instructed that “Drug Prevention Committees” must be formed quickly in every union by co-ordinating Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, BNP, and all other units of the party. He urged these committees to play an active local-level role in halting the spread of drugs.
During the street rally, the BNP leader also expressed dissatisfaction with the current manner of conducting local political activities. He remarked that instead of holding meetings and rallies on public streets, the party needs to establish its own office.
“We cannot continue holding meetings on the streets like this. We must have our own office, even if we have to purchase land or rent a house,” Pasha said. He added that a permanent party office is essential so that workers and members of the public have a proper place to sit when they visit.
He called upon the wealthy and well-to-do party leaders and activists to come forward and contribute towards establishing the party office.
He added that while activists would donate according to their capacity, he would personally arrange the remaining necessary resources to complete the project.
Pasha concluded by urging the party rank and file to maintain strict discipline, strengthen the organisation, and act with a greater sense of responsibility to earn the trust of the general public.
He also emphasised the need to build a united social resistance, transcending party lines and differing opinions, to make Sandwip entirely drug-free.
