Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday put emphasis on creating a social movement against drugs like the one against militancy.

“There was a social movement against militancy; like that we want another social movement against drugs," she said.

The PM was speaking at a videoconference arranged to inaugurate four amphibian dredgers, Munshiganj-Gazaria ferry terminal and service, four container carrier vessels and two mini-utility ferries from the Gono Bhaban.

Hasina said her government did not want the future of the country's children to get ruined. “We don't want to see someone to become a terrorist and drug addict.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 950-metre bridge yesterday via teleconference. Photo: Dilip Roy

She said the government wanted every child to be the worthy citizen of the country and work for its development.

“They'll build themselves in a planned way; they'll build a prosperous life, and that's our aim. That's why the government wants to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the country and root out drug abuse as well. So, there's a need to create a social movement ... everyone should remain alert," she said.

Hasina urged all the guardians, teachers, imams and religious clerics to remain vigil. “There'll be a technology, knowledge-based nation ... that's our aim.”

The PM said her government wanted to make river routes effective soon as transportation cost on such routes was very low. "We want to build a river transport network across the country by dredging rivers and making river routes more operational soon.”

The government is working with plans to improve river connectivity across the country so that every region makes huge contributions to the national economy, the PM added.

She criticised the BNP government for shutting down Khulna Shipyard. The BNP government declared the shipyard abandoned, saying that it was not a profitable one. But the Awami League government handed it over to the navy and it is now building warships, Hasina said.

Talking about river erosion, the PM said the river erosion would have to be prevented.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan delivered the welcome speech, while Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed was present at the launching event conducted by Principal Secretary Nojibur Rahman.

Shipping Secretary Abdus Samad made a video presentation in this regard.

The four dredgers and four 158 TEU self-propelled multipurpose inland container ships were built by the Bangladesh Navy with technical support from South Korea.