Dhaka District Police has intensified its campaign against drugs and other crimes, adopting a zero-tolerance approach through increased raids, intelligence operations, checkpoints and round-the-clock patrols.
“Drugs are a major source of various crimes. So, we are working relentlessly to disrupt both the supply and distribution networks,” Dhaka District Police Superintendent Shamima Pervin told BSS in an interview.
She said police are targeting both drug-selling points and those involved in the trade, while intelligence-led operations are being conducted alongside regular and special drives.
“We are conducting special anti-drug operations on a regular basis. All police members, particularly those in the Detective Branch and at police stations, have been instructed to give special attention to drug-related crimes,” she said.
According to Pervin, police are combining checkpoints, patrols, intelligence gathering and targeted raids to dismantle local drug networks.
“Many of the places previously known for drug sales have already been shut down, while a number of people involved in the core drug trade have been brought under the law,” she said.
She, however, stressed that shutting down street-level drug sales alone would not be enough to contain the problem.
Greater attention must also be given to the routes through which drugs enter Bangladesh, she said.
“The routes used to bring drugs into the country must be identified and blocked. Preventing drugs from entering the country requires coordinated action by all concerned,” she said.
Pervin called for stronger cooperation among law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to disrupt the drug supply chain at its source.
She also highlighted the role of the media in raising awareness about drug abuse and reporting information on drug-entry routes.
The police superintendent said the force is placing greater emphasis on its core responsibilities of maintaining law and order, protecting people and safeguarding their property.
Referring to the changed circumstances following the 2024 Mass Uprising, she said police have been able to focus more closely on their professional duties.
“The main job of the police is to maintain law and order and ensure the safety and security of the people. We are now keeping that responsibility at the centre of our work and performing our duties professionally,” she said.
She said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards crime, with particular emphasis on combating drugs and taking action against major drug traffickers operating in Dhaka.
Pervin, who became the first woman police superintendent of Dhaka district, said she prefers to be recognised primarily as a professional police officer.
The Home Ministry appointed her Dhaka district police superintendent on April 30 this year, making her the first woman to hold the post.
“There are certainly some realities associated with being a woman in society. But I have not experienced this as a negative factor. Rather, it has given me a positive position,” she said.
She said her position as a woman police officer has encouraged some women to approach police and speak openly about problems they might otherwise hesitate to share.
At the same time, she said public confidence in police brings greater responsibility.
“We have to maintain that trust through professionalism, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility,” she said.
The SP stressed that policing cannot succeed without active public cooperation.
“If drug sales or any other criminal activity takes place in an area, people should inform the police immediately. Timely information allows us to take swift action,” she said.
She said cooperation from local residents strengthens police efforts and helps build greater trust between law enforcement and the community.
Pervin said the fight against drugs cannot be won through enforcement operations alone, as drug abuse is a broader social problem requiring a sustained response.
“Families, educational institutions, social organisations, religious leaders and the media all have a role to play in creating long-term awareness,” she said.
“Many crimes originate from drugs. So everyone must work together against the spread of drugs. Police will do their part, but every section of society must fulfil its own responsibility,” she added.
She expressed hope that coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies, the public, social and religious leaders and the media would help curb drug abuse and contribute to a safer and more peaceful society.
