Dhaka, Feb. 23 -- Dhaka's sprawling slums have long been a symbol of hardship, but a worsening crisis is now intensifying the struggles of their residents- the alarming rise of drug addiction.

A field visit to various slum areas reveals a grim reality where substance abuse is tearing apart families and futures.

In Koral slum, Ripa recounts her father's tragic downfall. Once a hardworking man, he now spends his days intoxicated, leaving Ripa and her mother to toil as domestic workers to sustain the family.

Their story is not unique as it echoes throughout the slums, where addiction is claiming lives and livelihoods.

Atiya Khatun, another resident, fights a daily battle to survive. "My husband is no longer around. My son used to work in...