Social cocaine, not social media: Home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has described the social media platforms as "social cocaine".

Information technology is assisting people, but people are becoming addicted to cell phones due to [social media network] Facebook and misconduct is being carried out using social media, which is called social cocaine, he said on Saturday (Sept 7).

The minister was speaking as a discussion on prevention of drug abuse, terrorism, child repression, eve-teasing, child marriage and abuse of internet on cell phone organized by Bangladesh Retired Police Officers Welfare Association in Dhaka, reports BSS.

Students of Rajarbagh Police Lines School, Shahid Police Memorial School and College in Mirpur were present on the occasion.

Kamal called for a change from this menace. "Cell phones are needed. But [your children] do not go to a place that is harmful to you.”

The minister also urged guardians for taking care of their children as the teenage gang is now being emerged.

“Though our law enforcement agencies remain active, guardians should take care of their children, what they are doing,” he said.

Kamal said teenage gangs have emerged, adding, “Be careful about children and you will not allow them to stay outside after evening, they go to the reading table after returning home.”

“We noticed that children were out of the house not only after evening but also they stayed the late night,” BSS quoted the minister as saying.

He requested guardians for taking care of their children and grandchildren what they were doing and not to involve in teenage gangs.

Kamal said if anyone commits crime then action will be taken according to the law, even as a teenager and there is also a law for juvenile offenders in the country.

The minister said the government has been working against terrorism and drugs following zero-tolerance policy, because drug destroyed the society, adding, “We have to save this generation from drug abuse and to this end, we have to do all kinds of movements along with social awareness.”

He said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and security forces are on track to stop the supply of drugs. The government has provided treatment to those who are addicted to drugs so that they can return to normal life.

Regarding eve-teasing, the minister said, “There is a law to control eve-teasing and it has been controlled and police take action against eve-teasers when they got news. But the managing committee of schools would have to take responsibility.”