Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today said collective efforts are essential to prevent social decay and corruption and ensure the country's development.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a meeting on law and order, public welfare, development activities and government functions at the Lakshmipur Deputy Commissioner's Office.
The meeting was the first after he was assigned responsibility for monitoring the district.
Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and Jatiya Sangsad Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan joined the meeting virtually.
Mintoo said social decay does not happen overnight and society must adapt properly to technological advances.
"The responsibility lies with parents, teachers, conscious citizens and the state," he said, urging families, society and the government to work together to control juvenile gangs.
He called on everyone to perform their respective responsibilities instead of leaving all problems to the state.
The meeting reviewed the district's law and order situation, focusing on crime control, anti-drug drives, prevention of juvenile gangs, execution of arrest warrants and disposal of pending cases.
According to the meeting, 208 crimes were recorded in August, 2026, including 26 cases of violence against women and children, 66 drug-related offences and 91 other crimes.
Police disposed of 852 arrest warrants during the month, while 12,014 remained pending.
The meeting also discussed environmental protection, including drives against illegal brick kilns, topsoil cutting, illegal sand extraction, river and canal pollution and banned polythene.
Over the past year, 65 illegal brick kilns were shut down and Tk 1.2326 crore in fines collected under various laws.
The Department of Narcotics Control conducted 987 drives from January to August, filing 240 cases. Seized items included 17,250 yaba tablets and 28.859 kilograms of cannabis.
Officials were asked to intensify coordinated efforts to address juvenile crime, drugs, environmental pollution, illegal encroachment, reckless dump-truck movement and other public sufferings caused by ongoing road development works.
Lakshmipur-2 constituency MP and adviser to the District Law and Order Committee Abul Khair Bhuiyan and Lakshmipur-1 constituency MP and adviser to the District Law and Order Committee Shahadat Hossain Selim attended the meeting as special guests.
District Magistrate SM Mehedi Hasan presided over the meeting.
Ajkaler Khobor/MK
