Published: 01:02 AM, 28 June 2026
Home Minister announces modernizing DNC with firearms, dog squad
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday (26 June 2026) said the government is set to amend the law within a couple of days to equip officials of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) with modern firearms, including 9mm pistols, to effectively combat drug-related crimes.
He disclosed the information while speaking at a discussion and award-giving ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, marking International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The Home Minister said the DNC officials will also receive training so that they can deal with drug-related crimes in an efficient manner.
He said the department will be provided with detention facilities and trained sniffer dogs as part of efforts to strengthen its operational capacity.
Salahuddin Ahmed also announced plans to establish advanced drug-testing laboratories in every district across the country. A proposal in this regard has already been made, he added.
Highlighting the burden of pending drug cases, he said around 80,000 cases are still unresolved in Dhaka alone, attributing the backlog to the shortage of judges.
The Home Minister said the government will take initiatives to expedite case disposal by establishing courts with appropriate jurisdiction and prioritizing cases based on their significance and volume.
Referring to outdated legal frameworks, he noted that punishment for gambling offences is still governed by a law enacted in 1867.
The government wants to build a stronger legal foundation and is also working to make cyber laws more robust, Salahuddin Ahmed added.
A recent study conducted under the supervision of the DNC revealed that around 8.2 million people in Bangladesh are currently addicted to one form or another of illicit drugs, accounting for approximately 4.88% of the country's total population.
The emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, commonly known as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), has further exacerbated the problem of drug abuse in the country, Salahuddin Ahmed stated. Home Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, higher government officials, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Ashrafuzzaman Siddique, Bangladesh Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Director General, Department of Narcotics Control Md. Hasan Maruf, Honorary Consul of Malta M. Shoeb Chowdhury, media professionals, students from different institutions, officials from rehab centers, representatives from several volunteer organizations and other invited guests joined the program. A documentary film on DNC operations and harmful effects of drug addiction was screened during the event.
>>Saiful Alam, AA
