Bangladesh government would launch a coordinated nationwide crackdown on drugs, gambling, and online betting immediately after the current Jatiya Sangsad’s session ends on April 30, with a ‘zero tolerance’ policy aimed at protecting youths, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed told the parliament on Monday.
The announcement came during the 22nd sitting of the Jatiya Sangsad session chaired by speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as the minister responded to a motion on an urgent public importance issue.
His response followed concerns raised by Noakhali-2 lawmaker Zainul Abdin Farooque over the continued operation of illegal shisha lounges in posh areas of Dhaka under the guise of residential buildings, restaurants, and cafés.
Farooque alleged that despite repeated drives, these establishments continued to operate at night, often relocating or running with administrative backing.
He urged the authorities to take effective measures.
Responding to his notice, the home minister blamed the previous Awami League regime for patronising illegal shisha bars and drug hotspots in areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi and Uttara under the patronage of influential political figures and sections of the administration between 2009 and 2024.
He said that the Department of Narcotics Control and police are currently conducting regular drives in these areas, adding that drives on April 16 and 20 in Gulshan and elsewhere resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of raw shisha and inhalers.
The minister said intelligence surveillance had been strengthened to prevent operators from evading law enforcement by changing locations or bypassing authorities.
He warned that any police personnel found complicit in such illegal business would face immediate disciplinary action.
He also said that offenders are being arrested and brought to justice, while Dhaka North City Corporation was identifying and shutting down establishments operating without trade licences.
Assuring parliament, the minister said that all law enforcement agencies at district and upazila levels would take part in the special crackdown set to begin after April 30.
