The government has taken an initiative to construct and modernise barbed-wire fencing along 108 kilometres of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border as part of its efforts to prevent drug trafficking, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday.
He made the remarks at the sixth meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs at the National Parliament Building.
Committee Chairman Zainul Abedin chaired the meeting.
During the meeting, the chairman stressed the need to identify sources of drug production, supply and trafficking and take legal action to eliminate them. He also recommended investigating the financial networks linked to drug trading and tracing the flow of proceeds from criminal activities.
The home minister said the law and order situation across the country remained under control, adding that law enforcement agencies were committed to preventing sabotage and terrorism.
Parliamentary Whip Rakibul Islam stressed the need to introduce advanced technologies at the borders, similar to those used in developed countries. He also called for more effective use of drone surveillance.
Another parliamentary whip, Mia Nur Uddin Ahmed Apu, said controlling drug use required a social movement, stressing that it was a shared national responsibility rather than the sole responsibility of a ministry or a particular law enforcement agency.
The committee recommended ensuring the necessary financial allocations promptly to combat drug-related crimes.
It also reviewed measures to identify vulnerable border areas and routes used for drug smuggling and stressed coordinated surveillance, drives and preventive measures involving Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, police and the Department of Narcotics Control.
The meeting was attended by committee members, including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Parliamentary Whips Rakibul Islam and Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Md Kamruzzaman, Md Monowar Hossain and Shirin Sultana.
Senior officials, including the senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the inspector general of police, director generals of departments under the ministry and heads of relevant agencies, were also present.