Narcotics Control Act being amended: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday said the government has undertaken an initiative to amend the existing Narcotics Control Act to make it more effective in combating drug-related crimes.

He said the work for the amendment of the Narcotics Control Act is at the final stage and expected to be placed before the Jatiya Sangsad in the next few days.

The minister said this at a press conference organised to mark the ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the conference room of the home ministry.

Senior officials of the ministry, including Senior Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), Hasan Maruf, and representatives of private drug rehabilitation and treatment centers, were present.

The Home Minister said the capacity of the officials of the DNC is being strengthened, equipping them with modern tools, laboratories, transport facilities, and dog squads. There are plans to modernize the detention centres to keep the accused persons after arrest and transfer to police stations.

He noted that criminals are now using technology, online platforms, and financial channels for drug trafficking and related activities. Therefore, relying solely on existing legal provisions is no longer sufficient to curb such crimes. 

The government is working to create a stronger legal framework to ensure strict punishment for offenders and bring about broader social change, he added.

The minister further stated that proposals have been made to establish special tribunals and dedicated courts for the speedy trial of drug-related cases so that the accused persons cannot evade justice because of the case backlog.

He also mentioned that alongside the efforts to combat narcotics, the government has recently enacted a modern law to prevent online gambling. Legal reforms are also being introduced gradually to strengthen cybercrime prevention and enhance transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies, the minister added.

Referring to the findings from a national survey, the minister said that approximately 8.2 million people in the country are now affected by drug addiction.

Highlighting the government initiatives for treatment and rehabilitation, he said the number of beds has been increased at rehabilitation centers at Tejgaon and in three divisional cities. Work is also underway to expand the capacity of the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Center in Dhaka to 250 beds, he added.

At the same time, construction of modern 200-bed drug treatment and rehabilitation centers in seven divisional cities began at a cost of Taka 1400 crore.

To encourage private-sector participation, the minister said the government allocated financial grants of Tk1.10 crore to 73 selected private drug treatment and rehabilitation centers, which are being provided during the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The Home Minister handed over a grant of cheques to the representatives of 15 selected private drug treatment and rehabilitation centers in the capital.