Dhaka: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Saturday urged the countries of the Indian Ocean region to take integrated initiatives and enhance cooperation to prevent drug smuggling and its illegal use.

‘Bangladesh government has declared zero tolerance policy to the use of illegal drug and smuggling,’ he said while speaking at a high-profile meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to Counter Drugs Smuggling at Colombo, Sri Lanka, said a handout.

Asaduzzaman said although illegal drugs are not produced in Bangladesh, people are facing the terrible effects of drugs as those are being trafficked to the country from neighbouring nations.

Mentioning the production dreadful Yaba in Myanmar and its smuggling to Bangladesh via Chittagong route, the minister urged Myanmar government to take steps for shutting the Yaba producing factories.

‘Our government is committed to controlling drugs as per the UN convention, SAARC and Bimstec conventions policy,’ he said.

Ministers and state ministers of 18 countries are taking part in the meeting.