Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that everyone has to undergo a dope test for a government job, Anyone that tests positive will not get the job, he added.
“We will bring not only recruitment candidates, but also those who have already joined, under dope test. Dope tests are being conducted on everyone, especially those in our security forces. We are taking action against those who are found positive in dope tests”, he said.
He made the statement while addressing a discussion meeting virtually on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021 organized by the drug prevention agency (Manas) at Sagar-Runi auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Friday.
Mentioning that the dream of 2030 and 2041 cannot be implemented if drugs are not controlled, the Home Minister said that the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) is working to put an end to the drug menace.
“Whereas there was only one small office for three to four districts earlier, now there is one drug control office in each district. We have also increased the manpower,” he added.
Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, founder President of Manas and member of the National Drug Advisory Council said that even though Bangladesh does not produce drugs, young people of the country are becoming addicted to drugs due to illegal entry of drugs.
Citing research, he added that 98 percent of the drug addicts are smokers and 60 percent of them are involved in various criminal activities. Drug addiction is associated with most crimes in the capital, including robberies, extortion and murder.