Suspended police constable held again at a drug session in Rajshahi

Police constable Mehedi Hasan, who had been suspended after testing positive in a dope test over drug use allegations, has been caught again at a drug session. A fresh dope test is now being carried out on him.

Late on Saturday night (14 November), local people detained him while he was consuming drugs at a house in the Hetemkha Lichubagan area of Rajshahi city and informed the police. A team from Boalia police station of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) then detained him. Various items of evidence of drug consumption were also seized from the spot, and he was taken to the police station.

Constable Mehedi Hasan's home is in Sirajganj district, and he currently lives in the Bhadra area of Rajshahi city. A few months ago he was posted at Charghat police station in Rajshahi district. When allegations of drug use arose there, he was dope-tested. After the report came back positive, he was suspended and attached to the Rajshahi District Police Lines. A departmental case was also filed against him, and its investigation is under way.

Boalia police station's officer-in-charge (OC) Masuma Mustari said: 'Evidence of drug consumption was found in the room where Mehedi was, but no drugs were found. So a case could not be filed directly under the narcotics law. His dope test is being done at the divisional police hospital. If the report is positive, a case will be filed against him under the narcotics law as a drug user. If the report is negative, a report on the incident will be prepared and he will be sent back to the district police.'

District police spokesperson Sabina Yasmin, additional superintendent of police of the Special Branch, said Mehedi had been at Charghat police station a few months ago. When drug use allegations arose, he was dope-tested, and after a positive report he was suspended and attached to the Police Lines. A departmental case was also filed against him and its investigation is ongoing. She said she had heard that in the meantime he had been detained by city police at a drug session.

She added that on Sunday morning Mehedi was taken to the divisional police hospital for a dope test. If the report is positive this time as well, the police will take legal action against him.