Kushtia-3 Member of Parliament Amir Hamza has questioned the government in the National Parliament about when the historic shrine of Lalon Shah and its surrounding areas will be declared drug-free.
During the question-answer session on Wednesday, the MP directed the query to Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, asking about the government’s timeline and plan to free the revered site from narcotics.
In response, the cultural affairs minister said drug control is deeply connected to the improvement of the country’s overall social and economic situation, rather than being limited to a specific location.
“Without broad-based development of the rural economy, the youth population will increasingly head towards destruction,” he said, adding that the law-and-order situation must also be improved simultaneously.
The minister claimed that during the 17-year rule of what he termed the “fascist Awami League government”, both the law-and-order situation and the rural economy deteriorated significantly.
“As a result, social decay and the spread of drugs have increased,” he said.
Nitai Roy Chowdhury said the current government is working to restructure the rural economy, create employment opportunities, and improve the law and order situation.
“Through comprehensive preparation and rural economic development, in line with the current government’s commitment, a drug-free society will be established not only at Lalon Shah’s shrine but in all spheres,” the minister asserted.
He expressed confidence that if these initiatives are successfully implemented, a drug-free environment can be created across the country.
