Two held with cannabis outside Rajshahi Medical College Hospital

Personnel from the police box at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and Ansar members detained two men with 261 grams of cannabis in a joint raid outside the hospital’s Gate No. 6. They also seized a bicycle and an autorickshaw. Police said a case had been filed against the two under the Narcotics Control Act.

The raid took place around 4pm on Friday (16 October). The seized cannabis had an estimated market value of Tk 6,500.

The detainees are Md Matiur Rahman Moti, 52, son of Mohir Sheikh of Lakshmipur Baganpara in Rajshahi’s Rajpara police station area, and Md Shafiqul Islam, 55, son of the late Jasim Uddin of Pathanpara in the Boalia police station area.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the hospital’s Ansar platoon commander, Mainul Islam, and assistant Ansar platoon commander received a tip-off that two men were involved in selling and consuming cannabis outside Gate No. 6. They then informed the officer in charge of the hospital police box and his assistant.

Acting on the information, the officer responsible for the police box, the Ansar platoon commander, the assistant platoon commander and two Ansar members conducted a joint raid. They detained the two men with 261 grams of cannabis and seized a bicycle and an autorickshaw in their possession. The detainees were handed over to police after the raid.

Rajpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad said a regular case had been registered against the two under the Narcotics Control Act. They would be sent to jail through the court tomorrow, he said.

Those concerned believe regular raids and surveillance by law enforcement agencies are essential to prevent drug sales and consumption around major public gathering places such as Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.