Sangsad Bhaban, April 27 (BSS) — Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today told parliament that a nationwide enforcement drive will be launched after April 30 to curb illegal drugs, shisha lounges, and online gambling, stressing that there is “no alternative” to such measures to protect the country’s youth.  

“The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics and cyber-based gambling platforms,” he said, describing them as major threats to public health, morality, and social stability.  

The minister was responding to a notice from ruling party lawmaker Zainul Abdin Farroque (Noakhali-2), who drew attention to illegal shisha lounges operating under the guise of restaurants, cafés, and residential facilities in Dhaka’s posh areas. 

Salahuddin said law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Narcotics Control, have been conducting raids and mobile court operations, with intensified surveillance in areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi, and Uttara. He noted that shisha containing harmful substances is classified as a controlled narcotic under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018 (amended 2020), making its unauthorized use and trade illegal.  

City corporations and local authorities are working in coordination to identify and shut down such establishments. “No trade license is issued for shisha lounges. Any such activity is completely illegal and will be dealt with strictly,” he said.  

BNP leader Farroque welcomed the initiative but urged stronger accountability, saying enforcement must go beyond temporary raids. “The public wants to know how many offenders have been arrested and how many establishments have been permanently shut,” he said.  

In reply, the Home Minister assured that the upcoming campaign will be structured and coordinated, targeting not only drugs and shisha but also online gambling platforms. “Our objective is to protect the youth from all forms of addiction—whether physical or digital,” he said.  

He concluded by reaffirming the government’s stance: “Protecting the youth is our highest priority. There is no alternative to a united, coordinated national effort against drugs and online gambling.”  

END/AJ/RH