Create social movement against drugs: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today laid emphasis on creating a social movement against drugs as the one done against militancy.

"There was a social movement against militancy; like that we want another social movement against drugs," she said.

The Premier was speaking at a video conference arranged to inaugurate four amphibian dredgers, Munshiganj-Gazaria ferry terminal and service, four container carrier vessels and two mini-utility ferries from her official residence Ganobhaban.

She said her government does not want the future of the country's children to get ruined. "We don't want to see someone to become terrorist and drug addict."

She said adding that the government wants every child to be the worthy citizen of the country and work for its development.

"They'll build themselves in a planned way, they'll build a prosperous life, and that's our aim. That's why the government wants to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the country and root out drug abuse as well. So, there's a need to create a social movement...everyone should remain alert," she said.

Hasina urged all the guardians, teachers, imams and religious clerics to remain vigil.

The government wants to build the country beautifully where the future of every child will be brighter and all will be able to flourish their talents and devote themselves to nation-building activities.

"There'll be a technology, knowledge-based nation...that's our aim," she said.

The Prime Minister said her government wants to make river routes effective soon as transportation cost on such routes is very low. "We want to build a river transport network across the country by dredging rivers and making river routes more operational soon," she said.

The government is working with plans to improve river connectivity to all areas, enabling those regions to make huge contributions to the national economy, the Prime Minister added.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken initiatives to dredge rivers immediately after the 1971 Liberation War despite the country's severe financial constraint, considering the importance of river routes in the national economy. But those who formed governments after 1975 did not give any attention to the river connectivity.

She criticised the BNP government for shutting down Khulna Shipyard. The BNP government declared the shipyard abandoned saying that it is not a profitable one. But the Awami League government handed it over to the Navy and it is now building warships, Hasina said.

Talking about river erosion, the Prime Minister said the river erosion will have to be prevented.

She said Balu Mahals (Sand quarries) will have to be changed after a span of certain time to prevent the river erosion.

She put emphasis on conducting a survey on the feasibility of a sand-quarry and planned extraction plan.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan delivered the welcome speech, while Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed was present at the launching event conducted by Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman.

Shipping Secretary Md Abdus Samad made a video presentation in this regard.

The four eight-inch cutter suction amphibian dredger and four 158 TEU self-propelled multipurpose inland container ships were constructed by the Bangladesh Navy with technical support from South Korea.