Owners of rehab centres demand amendment to proposed rules

They also observed that the new rules proposed by the home ministry would increase the cost of drug addiction treatment and most middle and lower class families might not be able to afford it.

Private drug addiction rehabilitation centres, CREA, Apon, Baraka, Bangladesh Youth Fast Concern (BYFC) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) jointly organised the press conference at the National Press Club in the city demanding amendment to 'The rules on establishment and operation of private drug addiction counselling, treatment and rehabilitation centres, 2005'.

‘The Section-4 (1) (Kha) states that there must be at least 80 square feet floor for each drug addict patient' but arrangement of this provision will increase the treatment cost, he said.

Talking to The Daily Star, Prof Nurul Islam, director communication of DAM, said "The addicts do not need maid as they themselves can cook and do other activities, which are part of their treatment."

The speakers pointed out that peer counselling, group therapy and self-development activities are more important than a psychiatrist, as the addicts are not mental patients.

Father Kamol Coria, Brother Ronald Drahojal CSC chairman of Baraka and Tarun Kanti Gayen chairperson of CREA also spoke on the occasion.