Dhaka, April 27 -- Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced that a coordinated nationwide drive against gambling, online betting, and drugs will be launched after April 30.

He made the statement in parliament on Monday, the 22nd sitting of the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, in response to a notice under Rule 71 submitted by MP Zainul Abdin Farroque. The notice raised concerns over illegal shisha lounges operating under the guise of restaurants and cafes in upscale areas of the capital.

Responding to the query, the minister said that under the amended Narcotics Control Act 2018 (amended 2020), shisha has been classified as a Category 'B' narcotic. He added that the government has identified drugs as a national problem and ...