Speakers at a discussion expressed concern over the rise in gambling and substance abuse in the district, urging greater coordination between law enforcement agencies and narcotics departments to curb social evils.
The observation came at an “exit conference” on Wednesday, which marked the end of a three-year awareness raising project on community policing and people’s involvement in social causes.
The project was run by the Lalmonirhat-based non-government organisation Gono Unnayan Kendra, and sponsored by a group of four national and international donor groups.
The chief guest at the discussion, the district’s deputy commissioner Habibur Rahman, said abuse of substances such as phensidyl and gambling had been at the core of a number of social problems.
“These menaces are creating a nuisance in our society and may undo all that we achieved so far. We cannot let that happen. A collective response is needed to deal with them,” he said.
But taking action against drug peddlers is not the sole responsibility of police, argued Lalmonirhat Sadar police station’s officer-in-charge (OC) Jamir Uddin. “It’s not the duty of police officials to counter drug peddling and abuse, but the narcotics officers. They should be the ones at the forefront of the fight against drugs.
“Police can only extend their support, which they are doing, but their principal duty is to maintain law or order,” the OC said.
Al-Asad Md Mahfuzul Islam, a senior assistant police super in Lalmonirhat, stressed the importance of “robust counter-narcotics responses”, which would involve all related government departments and the general public.
At the discussion, speakers also highlighted the importance of improved relations between community police and local people to counter anti-social activities and maintain law and order.
Among others, Motiar Rahman, administrator of Lalmonirhat District Council, also addressed the meeting.
