A youth assembly titled “Youth Stands Against Drugs” was held today to demand evidence-based responses to drug related challenges.
The gathering took place at 1:00 PM on Saturday in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla on the Dhaka University campus, organized by the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing.
According to a press release issued by Tarikul Islam, Communication Officer of the Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, the Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery – 2025 was presented at the event by Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator of the Youth Forum. This declaration reflects a global youth movement against drugs.
The declaration was first launched on March 12 this year during a side event hosted by the Drug Free America Foundation at the 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) session held in Vienna. It was developed by the Global Youth Core Group, representing the experiences and voices of young people from various countries around the world.
In Dhaka, the Youth Forum emphasized that local action is an essential part of this global movement. The Forum called on policymakers and all levels of society to formally adopt and implement the Global Youth Declaration.
Abu Fayez, youth leader, stated "We don’t just believe in anti-drug slogans; we demand practical and effective measures that can truly save young lives.”
Foysal Hossain, a university student, added "To stay free from drugs, we need compassionate healthcare, evidence-based prevention, and an inclusive society built on empathy without stigma or discrimination.”
Mahthir Sun, youth activist, remarked "The solution to the drug problem lies not in emotional responses, but in research-driven, effective initiatives. We are demanding that change.”
Youths from different universities participated in the event and voiced their call for the adoption of evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
The Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing believes that by raising their voices and taking action, young people in Bangladesh are standing in solidarity with their peers across the world to champion evidence-based and inclusive approaches to drug prevention, treatment and recovery.