Bashundhara Shuvosangho organised a discussion session and distributed awareness leaflets in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila on Friday, calling on students and general people to avoid joining online gambling activities.

At the discussion session, local teachers, local influential people and members of Bashundhara Shuvosangho spoke about the harmful effects of online gambling and called on stakeholders to raise public awareness against the growing crisis.

Some discussants also urged speedy eradication of child labour and drug abuse, saying these two malaises invariably lead to online gambling.

School teacher Mawlana Muhammad Abu Taher called on guardians to send their young and teenage children to schools instead of work to help them become “enlightened” about human well-being. Studies would also dissuade students from joining online gambling groups, and drug abuse circles, he added.

Md Ashidul Islam, general secretary of Bashundhara Shuvosangho’s sadar upazila unit, provided a chilling information: online gambling has spread to every nook and corners of rural as well as urban areas, thanks to the spread of smartphones and internet.

Everyone must stay vigilant against the spread of online gambling and alert others about its harmful effects, Ashidul said.

Samiul Bashir, president of Bashundhara Shuvosangho’s sadar upazila unit, said narcotics and online gambling go side-by-side and both contribute to damaging families, societies and the country in general. He called on all to resist these two curses.