Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain on Sunday called for integrated, evidence-based and long-term initiatives to protect young people from the harmful effects of drug use at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
He was speaking at a seminar titled “Evidence-Based Prevention for Youth” at the Professor Dr M H Khan Auditorium. The event was organized by Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka Ahsania Mission and the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Bangladesh Chapter as part of the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026.
Zahid Hossain said sustainable prevention requires coordinated action from government agencies, educational institutions, families and civil society organizations, stressing that drug control efforts cannot rely solely on law enforcement or fear-based campaigns. He said: “To free the country from the scourge of drugs, we must build a social movement involving all sections of society. Only then can we establish a humane and welfare-oriented Bangladesh.”
He also highlighted government initiatives to empower young people through education, training and skills development programs under the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. He said the national budget’s focus on poverty reduction and improved health care services is also important in addressing the root causes of drug abuse.
Presenting the keynote paper, Iqbal Masud, director of the Health Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission and general secretary of the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter, called for workplace- and school-based prevention programs aligned with the United Nations International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, the Oviedo Convention and evidence-based behavioral change models.
He said replacing punitive approaches with rehabilitation and recovery-oriented services for drug-dependent and at-risk youth is now an urgent necessity. He also called for scientific review and evaluation of prevention programs run by the Department of Narcotics Control.
Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control Md Hasan Maruf, speaking as a special guest, said law enforcement alone cannot address the country’s drug problem. He said the department is increasingly focusing on scientific research to assess the effectiveness of preventive interventions.
Dr M A Mohit Kamal, chairman of the ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter, spoke about the role of adverse childhood experiences in shaping the mental health and behavior of young people.
Dr S M Khalilur Rahman, vice-president of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said drug abuse is a public health and social issue, not only a law-and-order concern. He called for piloting internationally recognized prevention programs through public-private partnerships.
In his presidential address, Professor Dr Md Ashraful Haque, vice-chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, called for collective efforts to ensure drug-free campuses and promote a healthy society.
Representatives from government and non-government organizations, public health experts, researchers and students attended the seminar.
