He said these things while speaking as chief guest at a seminar titled ‘Drug Control: Challenges and Way Forward’ organized by Debate for Democracy at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Friday (November 6).

Ishraque said drugs can destroy a society and a nation. To control drugs, a social resistance must be built with coordination among public representatives, law enforcement agencies, teachers, parents, and religious leaders.

He said, according to a national study published in January 2026, there are approximately 8.2 million illegal drug users in the country, which is about 5 percent of the population. Alongside taking effective initiatives now to protect the younger generation, arrangements must also be made for the rehabilitation of addicts.