There is no dope test for drug addiction in government hospitals of Mymensingh division. Job and driving license aspirants have suffered in this. Due to the government’s obligation to obtain a license, people are being forced to undergo dope tests at various diagnostic centers at a cost of Tk 4,000, where the government hospital fee for dope test is only Tk 900.
Mohammad Khurshid Alam, deputy director of the Mymensingh Narcotics Control Department, said that section 24 of the Narcotics Control Act-2018 contains dope tests for diagnosing drug addicts. The government has made dope tests mandatory for government and private employees and transport workers to diagnose drug addiction in order to obtain a driving license. In this case, amphetamine type of stimulants (ATS) dope test is required to diagnose drug addiction. There is no dope test system in any government hospital in Mymensingh. As a result, job seekers and driving license applicants have to undergo dope tests from private diagnostic centers with extra money and sufferings.”
Syed Mezbah Uddin, assistant director of BRTA, said it was not possible to issue licenses to 70 licensees as there was no dope test system in government hospitals. However, five of them submitted dope test reports from the diagnostic center. The rest have not yet submitted. The matter has been reported to the higher authorities.
Mymensingh District Motor Vehicle Workers Union President Md. Abdus Salam said that there is no dope test system in any government hospital of the department and transport workers are facing many problems in getting their licenses. Dope tests have to be done from a private clinic with extra money. In government hospitals, where dope tests are to be done for Tk 900, private clinics are being tested for Tk 4,000. This is nothing but misery for the workers.
District Civil Surgeon Md. Nazrul Islam said that there is an instruction to dope test at a government hospital with a fee of Tk 900. However, it costs Tk 4000 to test a private clinic. As there is no test system in Mymensingh Government Hospital, job and driving license candidates have to face difficulties. The matter has been reported to the health department. I hope they will take action.
Mymensingh Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Md. Golam Kibria said the hospital does not have a dope test system for diagnosing drug addicts. Official instructions have been received to install the machine for dope testing. Machine installation activities are in progress. It will take some more time. I can't say for sure when I will be able to start the test.
