Reiterating her government's firm anti-drug smuggling stance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said she has already directed the authorities concerned to take measures to stop fishing in the Naf River to check 'Yaba' smuggling.
"I've already directed the authorities concerned to stop catching fish for a few days in the Naf River as 'Yaba' tablets are smuggled through this route in fishing boats. We're also discussing the issue with the Myanmar government," she said.
The Prime Minister said this when a delegation of the Bangladesh Network for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Control and Prevention met her at her office.
President of Bangladesh Network for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Control and Prevention and National Professor Brigadier (retd) Abdul Malik led the 10-member team.
The other members of the delegation are Prof AK Azad Khan, Kazi Rafiqul Alam, Prof Harun-Ur-Rashid Prof Kazi Deen Mohammad, Dr Amzad Hossain, Prof Mollah Obaidullah Baki and Prof AKM Mohibullah.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is taking actions to check the use of drugs and their trade in the country, and put emphasis on prevention of diseases, observing that much awareness will have to be built against the diseases.
The delegation members expressed their interest in working with the government on preventing non-communicable diseases like heart, diabetes and neuro ones.
In response, the Prime Minister said a decision in this regard will be taken after discussions in the National Health Council, and briefly elaborated her government's steps for the development of the healthcare services in the country.
She mentioned that the government has given priority to the health sector since its assumed office. "We've procured necessary modern equipment for ensuring better medical treatment for people."
PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and Senior PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum were present.
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