17 members of Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) have failed dope tests.
Of them, five policemen were sent to jail after filing cases for being directly involved in drug trafficking. On the other hand, departmental cases have been filed against the remaining 12 members. Among them, four were sacked, and one retired. A few more names are on the dismissal list.
Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shahabuddin Khan confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
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He said they have adopted a zero tolerance policy on drugs. “The suspected policemen are undergoing regular dope tests every month. If someone tests positive in the dope test, legal and departmental disciplinary action will be taken against them.”
BMP Deputy Commissioner Abu Raihan Md Saleh said from September 2019, suspected members of BMP have been undergoing random dope tests every month.
In the last 15 months, a total of 48 policemen were tested for dope. Of them, 17 tested positive.
The deputy commissioner further said detectives have been appointed in every unit of the police to nab the drug addicted members. In addition, when unit heads suspect someone, they secretly send a list of drug addicts or drug dealers to the commissioner's office. Then the authority conducts a dope test.
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Those who test positive in the first dope test, are tested two more times to confirm. At least one assistant commissioner is directly involved in the process, Abu Raihan Md Saleh added.
Earlier, eight policemen from Kushtia were fired over the past one and half years after dope tests found proof of taking drugs.
In November, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sacked 10 of its members for failing dope tests. Eighteen more have been suspended for the same reason.
