Every family must take initiative to eliminate drugs: MP Jilani

GOPALGANJ: Eliminating drugs completely from society is not possible for any single individual or the police alone. However, if the head of every family takes initiative, drug eradication is possible, said S M Jilani, MP for Gopalganj-3 Constituency and President of the Central Volunteer League.

He made these remarks as the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled "Role of Imams and Muazzins in Building a Drug-Free Society", organised by Gopalganj District Olamah Dal on Saturday (August 22) at Tungipara Poura Multipurpose Super Market.

MP S M Jilani said, "What is the child of every family doing? It is first noticed by the parents. But initially, out of shame or for other reasons, parents do not want to accept that their son or daughter has become addicted to drugs. But later a time comes when, exasperated by that child, the parents hand them over to the police station. Therefore, if the head of every family takes initiative, it is possible to get rid of drugs."

Calling upon Imams and Muazzins to deliver sermons on the dangers of drugs before Friday prayers, he said, compared with other days, more people come to mosques and madrasahs on Fridays. 

If everyone is given sermons on drug eradication on that day, people from all classes and professions will become more aware, and society will benefit greatly.

Regarding the looting during the previous Awami League government, S M Jilani said, in the last 17 years, Tk 29 lakh crore has been smuggled out of the country. With that money, seven budgets of Bangladesh could have been announced. 

If this money had remained in the country, it would have reached your pocket and my pocket through some means. But the money was smuggled abroad. That is why the country's economy is in a fragile state. 

The elected government is trying to strengthen the foundation of the economy. I hope Bangladesh's economy will be strengthened soon.

The meeting was presided over by Maulana Mufti Saeedur Rahman, Member Secretary of Gopalganj District Olamah Dal. Among others who spoke were Sheikh Salahuddin Ahmed, President of Tungipara Upazila BNP; Nasir Hossain, Joint General Secretary; Khalid Biswas, Organising Secretary; Emdad Mollah, President of Poura BNP; Jihadul Islam Babu, General Secretary; Abu Jafar Khan, Organising Secretary; Gopal Sarkar; and Aminul Islam, Member Secretary of Jubo Dal.