The detentions took place on Tuesday, 27 October, during a law enforcement operation led by Sub-Inspectors Rana Pratap Ghosh and Md Maruf Hasan of Kaliganj Police Station, accompanied by a police force. Officers apprehended the five suspects across different parts of the upazila under suspicion of drug abuse. Following their arrest, medical personnel conducted chemical drug tests, which confirmed the presence of banned substances in their systems.

Police subsequently produced the accused before the local court. Operating under summary trial proceedings, the court found all five individuals guilty under the relevant provisions of the Narcotics Control Act 2018, handing down custodial sentences alongside monetary penalties.

Among those convicted, 35-year-old Jewel Mondal from Shatbaria village received the longest sentence of one year’s rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 BDT. Non-payment of the fine will result in an additional 15 days of imprisonment.

Two young men—19-year-old Samrat Mirza of Baliadanga village and 20-year-old Samrat Biswas of Ishwarba village—were each sentenced to 10 months of rigorous imprisonment and fined 1,000 BDT, with a default penalty of 14 extra days in jail.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Mahin Islam and 28-year-old Imon Mirza, both residents of Baliadanga, received seven-month sentences of rigorous imprisonment alongside a fine of 500 BDT each. Should they fail to pay the fine, both will serve an additional seven days behind bars.

Zulfikar Ali, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station, explained that the swift judicial process was made possible by integrating scientific testing with statutory enforcement under the 2018 drug control legislation. Following the conclusion of the court proceedings, all five convicts were transferred directly to prison under judicial custody to serve their respective sentences. Law enforcement officials reiterated that targeted drives against drug consumption and distribution will continue across the district.