The government has formed 22 “Narcotics Offense Suppression Tribunals” in various districts and metropolitan areas nationwide, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Cumilla, to speed up the trial of drug-related offenses.
The move was announced in a Law Ministry gazette notification, published in an extraordinary issue of the Bangladesh Gazette late Thursday night. The tribunals were formed under the powers granted by Section 44A of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, with separate local jurisdictions and boundaries defined for each.
Newly formed tribunals and their jurisdiction: According to the notification, one tribunal has been formed for Dhaka district, and four separate tribunals for police stations under Dhaka metropolitan area. These include: Dhaka Metropolitan-1, covering Pallabi, Kafrul, Mirpur, Shah Ali, Darussalam, Rupnagar, Bhashantek, Tejgaon, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Hatirjheel, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Ramna and Shahbagh police stations.
Dhaka Metropolitan-2, covering Kalabagan, Dhanmondi, Hazaribagh, New Market, Adabor, Kotwali, Bangshal, Chakbazar, Lalbagh, Kamrangirchar and Mohammadpur police stations.
Dhaka Metropolitan-3, covering Motijheel, Shahjahanpur, Paltan, Sabujbagh, Khilgaon, Mugda, Rampura, Demra, Shyampur, Sutrapur, Gendaria, Jatrabari, Kadamtali and Wari police stations.
Dhaka Metropolitan-4, covering Uttara East, Uttara West, Uttarkhan, Dakshinkhan, Airport, Turag, Badda, Gulshan, Banani, Bhatara, Cantonment and Khilkhet police stations.
Two tribunals have been formed for Narayanganj (Narayanganj-1 and Narayanganj-2), one for Chattogram district, and three for Chattogram metropolitan area (Chattogram Metropolitan-1, 2 and 3).
Three tribunals have been designated for Cox’s Bazar, a drug-prone border area. Cox’s Bazar-1 covers Teknaf, Kutubdia and Maheshkhali police stations. Cox’s Bazar-2 covers Ukhia, Sadar and Eidgaon police stations. Cox’s Bazar-3 covers Ramu, Chakaria, Pekua and Matamuhuri police stations.
In addition, two tribunals have been formed for Cumilla (Cumilla-1 and Cumilla-2), and one each for Brahmanbaria, Rajshahi district, Rajshahi metropolitan area, Bogura, Dinajpur and Jashore districts.
The notification further states that, within 60 days of its issuance, ongoing cases involving offenses punishable by a minimum of five years or more under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, will be transferred from the current courts to the newly formed tribunals in accordance with relevant laws and rules. Trial proceedings will continue from whatever stage a case has reached at the time of transfer. The notification states that it takes effect immediately.