Government to arm anti-drug officers: home minister

The government is preparing to arm officers of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s fight against drug trafficking, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press briefing marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the minister said the government was in the final stages of amending the Narcotics Control Act to make it more effective against increasingly sophisticated drug crimes.

The revised law is expected to be placed before parliament within the next few days.

Alongside legal reforms, the government plans to modernise the DNC by providing officers with firearms, expanding transport facilities, introducing dog squads and building holding cells for suspects before they are handed over to police.

Highlighting the Department of Narcotics Control's (DNC) existing limitations and the government's plans to address those, the minister said, “Our officers often have to confront armed drug traffickers empty-handed, like warriors without shields or swords.

“To enhance their operational capacity, the department will be equipped with modern firearms, adequate transportation and dog squads. In addition, modern holding cells will be built to detain suspects before they are handed over to police,” he added.

The department has already begun preparing its officers for the change.

'Sense of anxiety high during raids as traffickers usually armed'

“We expect officers from the rank of sub-inspector and above to be issued firearms,” Mukul Jyoti, deputy director (operations) at the DNC headquarters, told Daily Waadaa.

He said DNC officers have yet to receive the firearms, adding that the process is “under way”, while around 200 to 250 officers have already completed firearms training over the past two years.

Mukul said the absence of firearms has long put narcotics officers at a disadvantage during raids, particularly when confronting armed drug traffickers.

“Many times we conduct operations while remaining unarmed, and there is always a sense of anxiety,” he said. “Drug traffickers often know that we do not carry firearms.”

He said issuing firearms would improve officers’ operational capability while also serving as a psychological deterrent.

Responding to concerns that arming narcotics officers could lead to excessive use of force, Mukul said the department had instructed all officers to strictly follow the law and respect human rights.

“We are fully committed to protecting human rights,” he said. “Every officer has been instructed to work professionally, remain within the law and ensure there is no torture or abuse.”

8.2 million drug users in Bangladesh: study

On Thursday, Home Minister Salahuddin said organised drug networks are increasingly using technology, online platforms and money laundering to run their operations, making stronger legal and institutional measures necessary.

He said the proposed amendments to the Narcotics Control Act would create a tougher legal framework to deal with drug-related crimes.

The government has also proposed establishing special tribunals to speed up trials so that suspects cannot exploit lengthy court proceedings.

He also cited a national study conducted under the DNC, which found that around 80 lakh people – about 4.88 percent of Bangladesh's population – are addicted to drugs, with the spread of synthetic and semi-synthetic narcotics making the problem increasingly complex.

To expand treatment services, the government is increasing the capacity of existing rehabilitation centres and has launched a 1,413 crore taka  project to build seven modern 200-bed drug treatment and rehabilitation centres in divisional cities.

The centres will also provide skills training to help recovering addicts reintegrate into society.

The government announced 1.1 crore taka in financial assistance for 73 licensed private rehabilitation centres during the current fiscal year.