Staff Correspondent:

Due to social stigma and disgrace, women struggling with drug dependence are reluctant to seek treatment, remarked Farida Akhter, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

She made this statement at a discussion and award ceremony titled “Rights, Equality, Empowerment: Development of Women and Girls”, organized by the Ahsania Mission Women’s Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.

The event was held on Sunday (March 2) at 4:00 PM at the headquarters of Dhaka Ahsania Mission in Dhanmondi, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, said a press release.

She further said that the number of female drug users in the country is increasing. However, they are lagging behind in drug treatment. Drug use affects not only women’s physical and mental health but also their reproductive health. As a result, a woman’s ability to conceive and raise a child is severely impacted. You should seek treatment from reputable institutions like the Ahsania Mission Women’s Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Center and return to a healthy life.

The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Mahfuza Rahman Chowdhury Babli, Founding Director of Energypac Engineering Limited, and Yasmin H. Ahmed, a public health expert, attended as special guests. Additionally, the discussion featured prominent speakers, including Dr. Rubaiyat Ferdous, a psychiatrist; Dr. Rahena Begum, Coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s Counseling Services; and Dr. Nayla Parveen, Assistant Director (Medical Services) of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector.

The welcome speech was delivered by Iqbal Masud, Director of the Health and WASH Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

The speakers at the event stated that treatment facilities for women struggling with drug dependence are limited in the country. Those who seek treatment within these limited facilities often face social stigma and disgrace. As a result, many women refrain from seeking necessary care. On this International Women’s Day, we call for ensuring the right of women with drug dependence to access treatment without discrimination.