Mandatory Drug Testing Introduced for Government Employment

The government has formalised mandatory drug testing for individuals seeking employment in government, semi-government, local government, and autonomous institutions. Under the newly enacted regulations, any candidate who tests positive in a pre-employment drug test will be deemed ineligible for service. Similarly, existing employees who test positive will face disciplinary action under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules–2018, with drug use classified as misconduct. Failure to undergo appropriate medical treatment after a positive result will also be treated as a punishable offence.

The policy has been codified under the Detection of Drugs in Biological Samples (Drug Test) Regulations–2026, officially announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs last Monday.

Formation of the Drug Test Technical Committee

The regulation establishes a dedicated Drug Test Technical Committee to oversee the implementation and integrity of drug testing procedures. The committee will be chaired by the Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control and will include nine members nominated from relevant agencies and institutions. The committee may co-opt additional experts as required.

Key Committee Members:

Scope of Application

The regulation mandates drug testing in the following situations:

Recruitment for government, semi-government, local government, autonomous, and private institutions.

Issuance and renewal of vehicle, maritime, and aviation licences.

Issuance and renewal of firearms licences.

Deployment of personnel for overseas assignments.

Suspicion of drug use among students in higher education institutions.

Testing Procedures and Security Measures

Strict procedures must be followed during sample collection:

Individuals must present themselves at designated collection sites.

Photographs and fingerprints will be digitally recorded.

Sample information must remain confidential and untraceable to the individual.

Laboratory entry, exit, and activities must be logged in digital and manual registers.

Continuous CCTV monitoring within laboratories is mandatory.

Test results will be communicated only to authorised personnel or representatives.

Database Management

All pre- and post-analysis results will be securely stored in a dedicated drug test database. The system must be protected with robust security protocols and backup arrangements. Any negligence in maintaining these standards will be considered misconduct.

Previously, select institutions such as the Department of Narcotics Control, National Security Intelligence, Metro Rail, BCS recruitment, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, and driver recruitment programs had already implemented mandatory drug testing. With the new regulations, the requirement is now compulsory across all relevant sectors.