B.Mirror Desk: Drugs can destroy a family as well as ruin the potential of a generation. Although there has been concern about the spread of drugs in different parts of the country for a long time, the situation goes out of control in many cases due to the lack of effective and consistent administrative measures. However, an example of the major changes that can be brought about against drugs if the field-level administration officials are sincere and responsible and enforce the law strictly has been created in Rupganj, Narayanganj.

Rupganj Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Saiful Islam has been leading a series of campaigns against drugs for the past few months. From drug dealers to users, no one is getting an exemption. Action is being taken according to the law in both cases of arrest in police campaigns or complaints from families. Many have been sentenced through mobile courts and sent to jail.
According to upazila administration sources, UNO Saiful Islam has taken a strict stand against drugs, land grabbing and adulteration since taking charge. In the last four months, more than four hundred drug dealers and traffickers have been given prison sentences and fines for various terms in various operations conducted across the upazila. At the same time, various initiatives have been taken to create public awareness against drugs.
The concerned administration officials claim that due to regular operations and strict law enforcement, drug dens in various areas of Rupganj have been largely closed. The administration has now increased surveillance in places where there were allegations of open drug sales or consumption. As a result, there has been panic among drug dealers and increased relief among the common people.
Upazila administrative officer Ashikur Rahman said, “UNO has conducted eighty-six operations to protect the youth from the clutches of drugs.” In the last four months, more than four hundred drug dealers and traffickers have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and fines through mobile courts. He is not only working to enforce the law, but also to create public awareness against drugs.
However, locals said that UNO Saiful Islam’s role against drugs is not limited to law enforcement. Along with performing administrative duties, he is also trying to stand by the helpless and poor people. Locals said that they will provide assistance to the very poor, sick and helpless people who come to the upazila administration office from far and wide with various problems, along with government assistance, through personal initiatives.
According to helpless people like Rahela Khatun and Jewel Mia, UNO Saiful Islam has also become known to the people as a strict administrator and a humanitarian officer. According to them, the officer’s personal sincerity also plays a big role in restoring the trust of the general public in the administration.
According to local conscious circles, drug eradication is not only the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies alone. If the Upazila Executive Officer, Executive Magistrate, Police Officer, Public Representative and the concerned officials of the field administration perform their duties in a coordinated manner, it is possible to build a more effective resistance against drugs. The experience of the recent campaign in Rupganj has brought that possibility to the fore.
According to them, if field level officials in every upazila and district of the country conduct regular campaigns against drugs, strict law enforcement and public awareness activities like in Rupganj, then the spread of drugs can be controlled to a large extent. Because only making laws does not reduce crime; proper implementation of the law and the visible position of the administration against crime is also very important.
Rupganj UNO Md. Saiful Islam said, ‘I am performing my duty as an employee of the republic. I am determined to cooperate with the government to maintain law and order and the social environment in the area.’
This initiative in Rupganj is therefore not just an upazila anti-drug campaign; it is also an example of how effective resistance can be built against a major social problem through the activity and sincerity of the field administration. Those concerned believe that if responsible officials in other areas of the country take similar initiatives, it would be possible to build a stronger and longer-term social resistance against drugs.