Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, Editor, DBC : Countrywide anti-drug drives are going on. Such drives can only put a halt into drug peddling for temporarily. But this will not be able to bring any long term solution. In order to get sustainable results, plans have to be made for conducting these drives regularly but without spilling a single drop of blood.
Crossfire was never able to bring any permanent and effective solutions. If the sources of drugs are publicly available, in a society with ever growing demands, such campaigns will not be able to bring any difference at all. Sources of drugs need to be abolished at first. Arrangements have to me made so there are no more new drug addicts as well.
If authorities cannot do anything to reduce the ongoing demand, nothing can stop the emergence of more drug peddlers. They will replace those who are getting killed in the ongoing drives. A very important thing to be noticed here is that only administrative initiatives are not enough to get rid of the drug menace, initiatives need to have engagement of political, social, cultural and family sectors. Drug abuse in the country has gone to a horrible stage and it needs to be eradicated permanently. But again, crossfire is not the key to make this happen.
Based on an interview by Ashiq Rahman, translated by Xasir Youssaf.