Police face credibility crisis as officers test positive for drugs
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
It is the primary duty of the police to apprehend criminals and confiscate drugs along with other illegal contraband. However, while seizing narcotics across various parts of the country, police officers themselves are increasingly being caught with drugs.
The presence of drugs is being detected within the bodies of some officers. Upon proof, many are losing their jobs while others are being arrested in drug cases.
Most recently, the presence of drugs was detected in the body of Superintendent of Police (SP) Nizam Uddin while participating in a course with the Bangladesh Army. This incident has plunged the entire force into a major image crisis.
As a result, special directives have been issued from Police Headquarters urging the strict implementation of dope tests and a zero-tolerance policy against drugs.
Superintendent suspended and over 150 officers test positive
AFM Nizam Uddin, Superintendent of Police (TR) of Rangpur Range DIG Office, reported to Mirpur Cantonment from Police Headquarters on 8 January to join the DSCSC-2026 course.
On 7 June, he fell ill and was admitted to CMH, where a dope test conducted during routine medical examinations detected Benzodiazepine and Amphetamine/Methamphetamine in his system.
As a result, the Public Security Division issued a notification temporarily suspending him under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules. An examination of dope test records revealed that from 2020 to date, over 150 police personnel ranging from the rank of constable to inspector have tested positive, with 134 officers being dismissed.
A constable in Gournadi, Barishal tested positive in a dope test on September, following three other officers who tested positive in Barishal over the last six months.
District Superintendent of Police AZM Mostafizur Rahman told Agamir Somoy, “I always want to remain steadfast on the zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs. Since taking charge, I have informed everyone working with me about this. Facing complaints, I put them through dope tests. So far, four have tested positive. All four hold the rank of constable. Departmental action against them is ongoing.”
Dope tests for police personnel are typically administered in two stages - initially at a police hospital (or a neighboring district police hospital), where blood and urine samples are collected, and then re-tested through the District Civil Surgeon Office.
Departmental action is initiated once drug consumption is verified across both testing phases. Although dope testing is mandatory during initial recruitment, questions have now emerged regarding how effectively or regularly these tests are conducted for serving personnel, alongside reported reluctance among officers to undergo testing.
Several police officials noted that the force’s dope testing drive had slowed significantly since 2023, and demands to bring officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above under the scope of testing remained unimplemented, causing the issue to fade from discussion as testing momentum mysteriously dropped.
Police caught in drug smuggling and sales
Beyond failing dope tests, incidents of police officers being directly arrested with narcotics are also coming to light.
On 6 September, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested Mohammad Ali Munna Shikdar, a member of 16 APBn, in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, along with 54,000 Yaba pills. Yaba pills were recovered from a secret chamber inside his motorcycle, along with two iPhones and some money while he was on leave, leading to a case under the Narcotics Control Act.
Earlier, on 23 August, DMP’s Pallabi Police Station ASI Md. Shafiqul Islam and another individual were arrested in Dhaka’s Uttara area with 5,310 Yaba pills. Allegations indicate that he resold drugs that had been seized during anti-drug operations.
Most recently, the Detective Branch (DB) arrested two police personnel during an anti-drug drive in Satkhira with 56 bottles of Korex. They were identified as Mostain Billah, a member of the Special Branch at Satkhira Police Lines, and Najmul Islam, a computer operator at the In-Service Training Center.
Strict messages and zero-tolerance stance
On 12 May, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir said drugs pose a major challenge for the country and warned that no concession would be granted if any police member is proven to be involved in drug consumption or trade.
Despite this, allegations of drug involvement against police personnel continue to surface repeatedly. Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Khandakar Rafiqul Islam told Agamir Somoy that the police maintain a zero-tolerance stance on drugs, noting that involved members face both departmental action and regular criminal cases, which could lead to imprisonment upon conviction. He said, “The force will not take individual liability.”
Systemic warning and questions over credibility
Describing the situation where a police member becomes an associate of a drug syndicate as a warning signal for the entire system, Tauhidul Haque, associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, told Agamir Somoy, “Alongside swift departmental action, an independent criminal investigation is also necessary. Police play the most vital role in the fight against drugs.
“Therefore, the involvement of a section within the force in drugs is not merely a disciplinary issue. It also raises questions about the credibility of the entire anti-drug campaign.”
He added, “If a member’s lifestyle suddenly changes, unusual wealth is accumulated, or regular contact is maintained with suspicious individuals, it needs to be brought under scrutiny. Beyond just dope tests, whether there is financial involvement with drug trading or smuggling should also be brought under investigation.”
