DMP sacks 10 cops for dope test failure
Dhaka Metropolitan Police has come down hard on its members who have failed the dope tests and were found to be involved in drug trading or collaborating with such traders.
There have been widespread allegations against many law enforcers about their involvement in the drug trade and abuse.
As part of punitive measures against such crimes, the DMP has dismissed 10 of its members and issued orders to eight others, seeking explanations as to why they should not be sacked.
If the eight fail to give satisfactory responses within a week, they will be dismissed as per departmental rules, said Walid Hossain, deputy commissioner (media and PR) of the DMP, yesterday.
The process to terminate over 50 others who failed the tests was underway, DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star recently.
In a meeting at the Police Headquarters on November 15, Shafiqul said the tests were carried out on 78 members of the DMP who showed drug addiction symptoms, such as drowsiness, and 68 of them tested positive.
According to the DMP, of the 68, seven are sub-inspectors, one is sergeant, five are assistant sub-inspectors and five nayeks, while 50 are constables.
The 10 dismissed and the eight who were served orders are among the 68.
Besides, 29 others have been facing both departmental and criminal cases.
Of them, 10 are accused of peddling drugs, five of abusing narcotics, 10 of framing people intentionally keeping narcotics with them, and four of showing less seizure of drugs than the amount recovered and making financial gains, Walid added.
Asked, Walid said many of them are facing both criminal and departmental cases. After the criminal cases are resolved, they will face the departmental punishment.
He added that one of the 10 sacked is among the five narcotics abusers.
DMP Commissioner Shafiqul on November 17 said the 68 police personnel who tested positive in dope tests should not have been recruited if they were found positive during their recruitment.
"If anyone tests positive in a dope test while in service, we consider that person is also involved in drug trading or helping such traders," he told this paper.
"Police members who are involved in drug dealing, collaborate with drug dealers or use drugs have no place in the DMP and in service," he added.
These actions would send a clear message to others that no one would be spared for their involvement in drugs. Many have already quit drugs and returned to the right path, said the commissioner.
The cabinet in principle approved dope tests as compulsory for government jobs on July 25, 2019.
Police officers since 2019 have to undergo drug tests during the recruitment and all unit chiefs of police have the authority to perform the test on any police personnel on suspicion of drug abuse or on the basis of any specific allegation against them.
"We announced a war against drugs and if drug abusers are among us, it is not justifiable. Keeping that in mind, the commissioner has initiated the dope test in line with the departmental case rules," DC Walid said.
"For moral turpitude and indiscipline, anyone can be terminated," he warned.
Comments