Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday called on officials from every department to work under one umbrella to build a country free of corruption and drugs and to promote development, announcing a zero-tolerance policy on narcotics and a pledge to deliver quality healthcare to people’s doorsteps.

Husain told an exchange of views with department heads and local dignitaries at the deputy commissioner’s conference room in Manikganj that the government was taking a “zero tolerance” stance against drugs.

The minister said no leniency would be given to drug traffickers or dealers, urging the administration, law enforcement agencies and the public to work together to protect young people from the dangers of narcotics.

He said drugs destroyed not only individuals but families, society and the state.

On healthcare, Husain said the government was working systematically to guarantee basic services. Welfare offices would be established at the union level to help ensure health sector development and public welfare, while the quality of food provided to hospital patients would also be improved alongside medical treatment, he said.

The minister said corruption had seeped into every part of society and called for effective action at all levels to build a transparent and accountable system.

Referring to past practice, he said union-level officials used to receive BDT 10 million in allocations around election time and were often forced to accept the money under threat of losing their jobs. He urged everyone to come out of this culture of irregularity and corruption.