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BAU Correspondent: The Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has called for a collective social movement involving university authorities, students and local residents to build a drug-free, safe and student-friendly campus.
As part of the initiative, the organisation has taken steps to involve boatmen, local residents and people from different walks of life in identifying potential drug entry routes and preventing drug supplies to areas surrounding the university.
The initiative was announced at a drug awareness seminar and exchange of views held at the mini conference room adjacent to the university’s Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) on Thursday night (October 8).
Leaders of the organisation said drug prevention should not be viewed solely as the responsibility of the university administration or law enforcement agencies. Instead, they said, it must be transformed into a broader social movement.
A university does not exist in isolation, they noted, adding that its surrounding communities are closely connected to campus life through their livelihoods, communication networks and social environment. Therefore, awareness and cooperation among local residents could play an important role in identifying potential drug entry routes and vulnerable areas and developing an effective prevention mechanism.
The organisers said boatmen and people from various professions in areas surrounding the campus had been invited to the seminar to help identify possible drug supply routes and raise awareness at the community level. The aim is to extend anti-drug activities beyond the university campus and engage the wider community.
Speakers at the discussion stressed the need to identify the root causes of drug abuse and take effective measures rather than limiting anti-drug efforts to raids or slogans.
They also emphasised the importance of ensuring psychological support, appropriate medical treatment and rehabilitation facilities for students affected by drug addiction.
Local participants at the seminar assured the organisers of their cooperation in preventing drug abuse. They also highlighted the need to responsibly report suspicious activities to the relevant authorities, maintain regular information sharing and coordinate efforts with law enforcement agencies.
With the message that awareness should be the first step towards prevention and social cooperation its strength, BAU Chhatra Dal called for continued collective efforts to build a drug-free and safe campus.