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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Health & Science

Bangladesh Launches Major Project to Combat Drug Addiction

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Approximately 8.2 million people in Bangladesh, or 4.88 percent of the population, are addicted to illicit drugs, according to the Home Minister.
  • The government is implementing a Tk 1,413 crore project to establish 200-bed drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers in seven divisional cities.
  • While the government is expanding treatment facilities, the Home Minister acknowledged that current state-run centers are still insufficient to meet the demand.

Bangladesh faces a significant drug addiction crisis, with an estimated 8.2 million people, or 4.88 percent of the population, dependent on illicit substances. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed highlighted the escalating problem, particularly with the emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs that are increasingly affecting young people.

"The emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs has further intensified the problem. A large number of young people have become dependent on drugs and require immediate treatment," the minister stated, citing a study supervised by the Department of Narcotics Control. He emphasized the government's commitment to improving and expanding access to drug addiction treatment services.

The emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs has further intensified the problem. A large number of young people have become dependent on drugs and require immediate treatment.

— Salahuddin AhmedHome Minister of Bangladesh, describing the severity of the drug addiction crisis.

To address the growing need, the government is undertaking a substantial Tk 1,413 crore project to build 200-bed drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers in seven divisional cities: Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh. These centers will eventually offer training and rehabilitation programs for addicts post-treatment. Additionally, the number of beds has been increased at the state-run addiction treatment and rehabilitation center in Tejgaon, Dhaka, and in three other divisional cities. Plans are also underway to upgrade the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre in Dhaka into a 250-bed facility.

Despite these efforts, the Home Minister conceded that "Government treatment facilities are still inadequate compared with the number of drug addicts in the country." He also urged private treatment centers to adhere to national regulations and guidelines, speaking at an event where grants were distributed to 15 private institutions running approved centers.

Government treatment facilities are still inadequate compared with the number of drug addicts in the country.

— Salahuddin AhmedHome Minister of Bangladesh, acknowledging the gap between treatment capacity and the scale of addiction.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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