A suspended police constable facing an ongoing departmental investigation over drug consumption allegations has been detained again by police from a drug gathering in Rajshahi city late on Saturday night.
The detainee, Mehedi Hasan, a police constable, was apprehended by Boalia Model Police Station from a room in Hetemkha Lichubagan area of the city.
The allegations of drug consumption against Mehedi Hasan are not new. A few months ago, whilst working at Charghat Police Station in Rajshahi, the first allegation of drug use was raised against him.
A subsequent dope test yielded a positive result, leading Rajshahi District Police to temporarily suspend him and attach him to Rajshahi District Police Lines.
A departmental case was also instituted against him over the incident, and its investigation remains underway.
Following his fresh detention, steps have been taken to conduct another dope test on Mehedi. He was taken to the Divisional Police Hospital on Sunday morning.
Police said that further legal and departmental measures would be taken based on the test results.
Masuma Mustari, officer-in-charge of Boalia Model Police Station, told the media that evidence of drug consumption was found in the room where Mehedi was present.
However, because no narcotics were recovered from the scene, a case could not be directly filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
She added that his dope test was currently being conducted at Divisional Police Hospital. If the test result returns positive, a case will be filed under the Narcotics Control Act on charges of drug consumption.
Should the result be negative, a report detailing the incident will be prepared and he will be sent to the district police.
Sabina Yasmin, additional superintendent of police (special branch) and spokesperson for Rajshahi District Police, told the media that allegations of drug consumption first surfaced against Mehedi during his posting at Charghat Police Station.
She said that his dope test came back positive at the time, resulting in his temporary suspension and attachment to the police lines alongside an ongoing departmental case investigation.
She added that she had been informed of his fresh detention by the city police.
Mehedi Hasan hails from Sirajganj and currently resides in Bhadra area of Rajshahi.
