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16,260 people were accused in narcotics cases, of whom 9,268 were acquitted.

Replying of another question about a big number of accused going back to narcotics business again after securing bail, Jamal Uddin said offences related to drug cases are non-bailable under the Narcotics Control Act 2018 and 1990. “Even after this, if the honourable court grants bail to the accused, we have nothing to do.”

“Judges have to play an active role. If they analyse facts and exercise their judicial power while granting bail to such accused, it will bring about a positive change,” the DG observed.

DNC organised the briefing on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary, which will be observed tomorrow. DNC started its journey in 1990.

The DG said they were unable to work properly in previous years with limited manpower. Recently, the manpower was increased to 3,360 from 1,706, and the new appointments are expected to be completed within June, he said.

Under the new organogram, prosecutors will also be appointed to deal with narcotics cases to ensure better conviction, according to DNC officials.

Presently, DNC has only 12 prosecutors and 37 assistant prosecutors to cover the judicial magistrate’s court and judge’s courts in 64 districts. The number of courts is more than 500, officials added.

HOTLINE LAUNCH

DNC will launch a hotline number on January 2, said the DG. The number is - 01908888888.

The prime reason to launch the number is to include everyone in combating narcotics. Anyone can contact DNC officials of 64 districts directly using the hotline, and provide narcotics-related information to them, said the DG.

INITIATING DOPE TESTS

The Narcotics Control Act 2018 came to effect on December 27, 2018. A major addition to the law was introduction of dope tests, said the DG.

Dope tests have been initiated in 2019, and it has been made mandatory for appointment of all government, semi-government and autonomous jobs, he said.

DNC has also taken steps to initiate dope tests in different sectors; as a result, educational institutes have started conducting dope tests for new admissions, said the DG.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) has already started dope tests for admission to the university in 2019.

REHABILITATION CENTRE

The DNC will also take steps to set up 200-bed rehabilitation centres in seven divisions of the country, to provide better treatment to drug addicts, said the DG.

Presently, rehabilitation centres of the country only apply one or two techniques for treatment of drug addicts, while 82 techniques are applied for treatment around the world, he said. “We have plans to introduce new techniques for treatment of drug addicts in coming years.