DNC seeks dope test for jobs, licence, admission and overseas trip

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has proposed to make dope test mandatory for all jobs in government, private, autonomous institutions and local governments bodies to prevent the spread of narcotics.

Director General of DNC Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan presented the draft proposal for the rules related to dope test in a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry recently.

He informed the meeting of draft of Dope Test Rules 2022 prepared and now under consideration of Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The draft contains a total of 42 rules and 5 forms in the schedule.

About relevance of dope test, he said any person seeking new driving or arms licence or renewal, any student, and overseas trip aspirants found to be addict will be addressed accordingly as per executive orders time to time.

According to DNC sources, dope test programme is being held currently at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre in Dhaka. There are dope testing facilities in drug addiction treatment centres in Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions.

However, the activity is being disrupted due to lack of required manpower. Moreover, some projects are taken to set up government drug rehabilitation centres in other divisional cities.

According to DNC sources, a total of 41 thousand 759 cases have been registered across the country in five months accusing 51 thousand 834 people from January to May this year under Drug Control Act. Of them, 11 thousand 231 people have been arrested and 40 thousand 603 remain absconding.

Deputy Director of the Department of Narcotics Control Manjurul Islam told the media that the draft rules related to mandatory dope test have been prepared.

It is not possible to bring everyone under dope test until there are rules, he said, adding that a draft regulation was prepared by the Department of Narcotics Control and sent to the Ministry of Law. Later, the Law Ministry sent it back with some observations. Then it was sent to the Home Ministry after making some changes as per law ministry observations.

After getting final approval from the Law Ministry, a Gazette will be issued and dope test could be conducted as per the rules.

In this context, he said, if dope test is made mandatory, students will refrain from taking drugs fearing disqualification for enrollment into schools, colleges and universities. Job seekers will also refrain from taking drugs for loss of job.

Apart from this, drug addicts can be identified and brought under treatment, he added.