This document proposes a citizen engagement project to address the problem of drug addiction among youth in Bangladesh. The project aims to (i) build awareness of the issue, (ii) engage civil society to help address it, and (iii) create pressure on law enforcement to control drug trafficking. It will involve citizens, NGOs, and local government working together in 10 communities. Strategies include community meetings, social media campaigns, and reporting drug sellers to authorities. The project expects to directly reduce drug use and trafficking, while indirectly creating a more informed and engaged community working to solve social issues and support development goals. Challenges include the complexity of coordinating citizen participation effectively.

1. Digital Artifact:
Citizen Engagement Project
Welcome

2. Presented by
Enamul Haque
from Bangladesh
Engaging Citizens: a game changer for Development
MOOC participant
March 02, 2016

3. The Community Citizens, Government of Bangladesh, Policy
Makers, International & National Non- Governmental
Organizations (NGO’s) & Philanthropists.
The Target Audience

4. Project Name:
Engaging Citizens to Stop Drug Addiction
Objective:
 Objective of Citizen Engagement Initiative:
(i) To build awareness among the youth and the community citizens;
(ii) To engage civil society to play an effective role to control the situation;
(iv) To create pressure on law enforcing agency to control illegal drugs business;

5. The Idea/Problem
Drug addiction of youth is a crucial problem in Bangladesh. Now it is a
growing national concern. There are millions of drug-addicted people in
Bangladesh and most of them are young, between the ages of 14 and 30
and they are from all strata of the society. Drug addiction creates health
problem, negative effect on brain, behavioral problem and sometimes
birth problems. It is a threat to build a strong future generation and
ensuring sustainable development goals.

6. Engaging citizens to solve the problem might be greatEngaging citizens to solve the problem might be great
solution. The community citizens together can control and/orsolution. The community citizens together can control and/or
stop drug addiction involving all strata people with policystop drug addiction involving all strata people with policy
maker and concern local authorities. Community citizens canmaker and concern local authorities. Community citizens can
use social media like facebook to build awareness.use social media like facebook to build awareness.
The Idea/Solution

7. Project Location
Selected 10 communities in Bangladesh

8. The drug addiction is social problem so the community
citizens can easily come in a common platform to build
awareness regarding the negative impact and
consequences of drug addiction and create pressure on
law enforcing agency to control illegal drug business.
Why Citizen Engagement?

9. Strategies
 The project will be leaded by a community NGO;
 There will be a community coordinator who will connect the citizens;
 Community citizen will write opinion on a form and facebook as well;
 Consolidated recommendations will be sent to local govt. authorities;
 There will be monthly coordination meeting among community
coordinator, community representative and local govt.
 Open seminar and discussion will be held on a regular basis.

10. Proposed Role of Each Party
Role of NGO
 To coordinate among citizens and govt. agencies;
 To make citizen engagement and outcome result available.
Role of Community Citizens
• Raise voice and unite their opinion to recommend to local govt.;
• To solve the problem engaging together.
Role of Local Govt. Authority
• To take effective action to control illegal drug sellers and abusers;
• To help community citizens for awareness campaign against drug addiction.

11. Project Plan
Methodology of Implementation
Base line survey to identify to intensity of the problem;
Regular awareness program involving community people;
Identify the most addicted victims to take measures;
 Create awareness among youth making poster, festoon and
facebook campaign;
Inform regarding illegal sellers to law enforcing agency;
Making quarterly survey to monitor the progress.

12. Project Impact
 Direct Benefit:
1. Reduce the % of illegal drug taker;
2. Reduce the % of illegal drug seller;
 Indirect Benefit:
1. Making a well informed community;
2. Initiative to making citizen united for social wellbeing;
3. Improve humanity to build a strong social structure;
4. Finally, this will improve education, health, lifestyle & support the process of
poverty alleviation.

13. Bottle Neck
Despite of great benefit of the citizen
engagement project it is a complex process
to get the highest benefit out of it.

14. Conclusion
Although the problem is complex in nature but citizens are the prime
source of power. Once the citizen are united and engaged to solve a
common issue there would be a great outcome. Besides, our 40 years
of working experience with community people and expertise will lead
us to win the situation. Finally, we expect to build a powerful society
eradicating the drug addiction from the target communities.