Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized the need to strengthen the practice of social and religious values from the school level. Speaking at a views exchange meeting with journalists at the China Friendship Conference Center on Tuesday, he said that sports, cultural activities, and innovation competitions are being prioritized nationwide to protect the youth from the threat of drugs.

The Prime Minister noted that drug abuse has become a serious problem among the youth and that the country’s capacity for treatment and rehabilitation is limited. He stressed the importance of channeling the physical and mental energy of young people aged 15 to 25 into positive activities such as sports and culture. He mentioned the launch of the 'Notun Kurir' sports and cultural competition, which recently saw participation from around 2.2 million students across the country.

Tarique Rahman also called for year-round cultural and debate programs in educational institutions and directed the Information Ministry to conduct awareness campaigns promoting social and religious values. He further discussed economic reforms, rural development, and the objectives of the proposed 'Family Card' and 'Farmers Card' initiatives.