In a significant call to action, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo emphasized the need for collective efforts to prevent social decay and corruption during a meeting on law and order, public welfare, development activities, and government functions at the Lakshmipur Deputy Commissioner's Office. This was the first meeting Mintoo attended after being 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 highlighted that social decay is a gradual process and society must adapt properly to technological advances. He stressed that the responsibility to prevent such decay lies with parents, teachers, conscious citizens, and the state. Mintoo urged families, society, and the government to work together to control juvenile gangs and 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.
Environmental protection was another key topic discussed at the meeting. Drives against illegal brick kilns, topsoil cutting, illegal sand extraction, river and canal pollution, and banned polythene were reviewed. Over the past year, 65 illegal brick kilns were shut down and Tk 1.2326 crore in fines were collected under various laws. The Department of Narcotics Control conducted 987 drives from January to August, filing 240 cases and seizing 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.
