Dope test to be mandatory before university admission: Asaduzzaman

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said dope tests will be made mandatory for the students before university admission by amending the relevant law.

“The laws are being amended and students will be brought under dope test and the medical tests including the dope test will be done at the time of their admission,” he said.

The minister disclosed this information at a press conference on the occasion of ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking, 2022’ at the secretariat. Replying to a question, the Home Minister said, “We have already started dope tests of police members when the Prime Minister announced zero-tolerance against drug abuse.”

“The people to be appointed as government employees will also undergo dope tests. We have sent a proposal to the prime minister seeking her directives to introduce dope tests along with the other tests the civil surgeon conducts. Now that is being done as well,” he added.

“To do this infrastructure needs to be developed and efforts are already on,” he added.

While speaking about controlling the influx of drugs, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that a total of 20,592 cases were filed against 21,992 people during the anti-drug operations across the country last year. A huge quantity of drugs including yaba, heroin, cannabis, and phensidyl were also seized across the country during the period, he added.

The minister said the number of beds in government hospitals and the number of licenses of private treatment centres was increased to ensure medical services for drug addicts.

“Committees were formed at the division and district level to monitor the activities of non-government drug addiction treatment centres, and the committees are regularly monitoring the activities.”