The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has sacked 10 of its members for failing dope tests. Eighteen more have been suspended for the same reason.
More than a hundred DMP personnel, suspected of abusing drugs, were brought under the tests, and 68 of them tested positive.
A total of 43 departmental cases were initiated against them and 25 more are in the pipeline to face departmental action, DMP sources said.
A DMP high official, seeking anonymity, told Dhaka Tribune that seven sub-inspectors, a sergeant, five assistant sub-inspectors, five nayeks and 50 constables were found addicted to drugs.
In addition, 24 police personnel are facing allegations like selling drugs, framing innocent people with drugs, and taking or earning money by showing less amounts of drugs in their seizure lists than the actual hauls.
Most of the policemen, who failed in dope tests, were assigned to work at different police stations and have initially been suspended.
On September 26, DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam told Dhaka Tribune that they had initiated the process to sack those who failed dope tests and make sure the unit didnot have any place for drug abusers.
Those who failed the tests are mostly addicted to yaba and marijuana.
Sources said there had been many allegations against police concerning their involvement in the drug trade and their personal drug abuse.
In addition to the various units making their own list, the DMP commissioner's own intelligence department, the Intelligence Analysis Division (IAD), also worked to make the list of drug abusers.
