Catholic addiction treatment center gets award for the sixth time
On the International Day Against Drug Abuse, the Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Addicts – founded by the Brothers of the Holy Cross and supported by Caritas – received a new award for the quality of its services. For Director Brother Gomes, “stricter measures against trafficking” and psychological support for young people are needed. Rising addiction rates are setting off alarm bells in the country.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Addicts (BARACA), run by the Brothers of the Holy Cross and supported by Caritas Bangladesh, has received a prestigious state award for the sixth time for the quality of its work in drug addiction treatment.
The award was given yesterday on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, in an official ceremony held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
Out of 393 entities registered in the country, BARACA, came in third thanks to the high quality of its treatments, rehabilitation services, administrative efficiency, and reporting standards.
Narcotics Control Department Director General Md. Hasan Maruf presented the award to BARACA director, Brother Nirmal Francis Gomes, who accepted it on the organisation’s behalf.
Founded and led by the Brothers of the Holy Cross, BARACA has been a point of reference for years for the care and support of people affected by addictions in Bangladesh.
This year’s is not the organisation's first award. It received the top award in 2023, the second in 2012, 2022 and 2024, and the third in 2016. This latest recognition consolidates its reputation as a place of reference in the country.
Brother Gomes credited the achievement to the collective efforts of BARACA’s staff, counsellors, medical professionals, field workers, volunteers, recovering patients, guardians, and partners.
“Rehabilitation alone cannot eliminate drug addiction. We need stricter measures against drug production and trafficking, especially given the alarming influx of narcotics into our country. There's an undeniable connection between unemployment, mental health challenges,” as well as “growing social acceptance of drug use”.
The religious also thanked Caritas Bangladesh, Caritas Germany, and international consultant Dr Ephraim Milanese for their constant support.
Meanwhile, alarming data have been released on the spread of drug use in Bangladesh.
According to a new survey by the Narcotics Control Department, the country now has about 8.3 million drug addicts, many of whom are addicted to multiple substances.
The most common are marijuana (6.1 million users), yaba (2.3 million), a very popular synthetic drug, and alcohol (2.4 million). Heroin, phensedyl and other illegal substances follow.
Home Affairs Advisor, Ltd General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, warns that drug abuse threatens the country’s healthcare system, security and economic development. Young people, a crucial resource for our future, are the most affected.
He also noted serious understaffing in narcotics enforcement agencies – only 2,943 agents for a population of 180 million – and the trend of women and children exploited in trafficking operations, as well as suspected incidents of corruption within the law enforcement itself.
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