<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said the government will not allow rallies on roads creating public sufferings.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Large political parties have been requested to avoid rallies on roads along with violence and vandalism centering the meetings. If such a situation arises, the law enforcement agencies will take necessary measures,” he told journalists at a press briefing at his ministry’s conference room here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The press conference was organized on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The day will be observed in the country on July 30 instead of June 26.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The theme of the day this year is ‘People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The home minister, also a veteran freedom fighter, said that so far no party has been given permission to hold a rally. “But even after permission, the same instructions will be given to both the parties and the conditions will be the same.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Replying to a question about both party’s rallies on same day, he said that political party leaders can say this, adding, “As the home minister, my job is to maintain the law and order situation.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kamal also said that there is no barrier to holding gatherings of political parties. “But they should not indulge in destructive activities, create public sufferings, damage and vandalise properties, raze peace. If they do these, the security forces will take necessary measures.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, the home minister emphasised on reducing drug demand and its supply, saying, “We are working as per a comprehensive action plan. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared zero tolerance against drugs and our motto is that.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He urged all including public representatives, civil society, media and imamas of mosques to build awareness against drug abuse and its destructive impact on the young generation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“All our plans will fail if we could not save our young people from the drugs. Yaba and ice drugs usually come from Myanmar and Phensidyle from India. We are working with India to stop it,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kamal said, “We have also started working with Myanmar but they are not cooperating in that way. That's why I am mobilising Coast Guard and BGB to prevent drugs smuggling into our country.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mentioning that BGB, Coast Guard and police seize and destroy huge amount of drugs every year, he said the government has been working to bring drug addicts back to normal life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We have established a number of specialized hospitals and appointed physicians to treat drug addicts. Narcotics Control Directorate is also working on it,” the home minister said. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>