The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has proposed making dope test mandatory for all public and private recruitment to curb drug abuse.

DNC Director General Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan has placed the draft proposal on the dope test rules at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry recently.

About relevance of the dope test, Wahab said new dope test can be conducted on any entrants to govt, semi-govt, autonomous, local government and

private institutions,   persons seeking new driving or arms licence or renewal and any students suspected of being addicts, workers intending to go overseas and pilots and as per executive orders if necessary.

The DNC is currently conducting dope tests at its Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre in the city’s Tejgaon area.

There are also facilities for dope test at drug treatment and rehabilitation centres in Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions.

However, the activities are being hampered for lack of required manpower.

According to the DNC sources, a total of 41,759 cases have been registered under the Narcotics Control Act against 51,834 people across the country in five months from January to May this year.

Of the accused, 11,231 have been arrested while 40,603 remained absconding.

DNC Deputy Director Manjurul Islam told the media that the draft rules related to mandatory dope test have been prepared. It is not possible to bring everyone under dope test until there are rules, he said, adding that the draft rules were first sent to the Ministry of Law, which sent those back with some observations.

Later, the rules were sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs after making some changes as per the law ministry’s observations, Manjurul said.

After getting the final approval from the law ministry, a gazette will be issued and dope test could be conducted as per the rules, he said.

In this context, the DNC deputy director said if dope test is made mandatory, students will refrain from taking drugs fearing disqualification for enrolment in schools, colleges and universities. Job seekers will also refrain from taking drugs for fear of losing job.

Besides, drug addicts can be identified and brought under treatment, he said.