Dhaka, June 21 -- Social Welfare, and Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain on Sunday called for integrated and evidence-based preventive initiatives to protect young people from the harmful effects of drugs.

He said drug control efforts should not be confined to law enforcement or fear-based campaigns alone, stressing that effective prevention requires evidence-based, integrated and long-term measures.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled "Evidence-Based Initiatives for Youth Drug Prevention" as the chief guest at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in the capital, marking International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026.

The seminar was organised jointly b...