22 tribunals to speed up narcotics trials

The government has formed 22 tribunals across several districts and metropolitan areas to accelerate the trial of narcotics-related offences, particularly serious cases carrying minimum sentences of five years or more.

The Law Ministry issued a gazette notification on Thursday night forming the tribunals under Section 44/A of the Narcotics Control Act 2018.

The tribunals have been assigned separate territorial jurisdictions and boundaries.

For Dhaka, one tribunal has been formed for the district and four for different areas under Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The Dhaka Metropolitan-1 Tribunal covers Pallabi, Kafrul, Mirpur, Shah Ali, Darus Salam, Rupnagar, Bhashantek, Tejgaon, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Hatirjheel, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Ramna and Shahbagh police stations.

The Dhaka Metropolitan-2 Tribunal covers Kalabagan, Dhanmondi, Hazaribagh, New Market, Adabar, Kotwali, Bangshal, Chawkbazar, Lalbagh, Kamrangirchar and Mohammadpur police stations.

The Dhaka Metropolitan-3 Tribunal covers Motijheel, Shahjahanpur, Paltan, Sabujbagh, Khilgaon, Mugda, Rampura, Demra, Shyampur, Sutrapur, Gandaria, Jatrabari, Kadamtali and Wari police stations.

The Dhaka Metropolitan-4 Tribunal covers Uttara East, Uttara West, Uttarkhan, Dakkhinkhan, Airport, Turag, Badda, Gulshan, Banani, Bhatara, Cantonment and Khilkhet police stations.

In Narayanganj, two tribunals – Narayanganj-1 and Narayanganj-2 – have been formed.

For Chattogram, one tribunal has been formed for the district and three for the metropolitan area, designated Chattogram Metropolitan-1, 2 and 3.

Three tribunals have been designated for Cox’s Bazar, a drug-prone border district.

Cox’s Bazar-1 will cover Teknaf, Kutubdia and Maheshkhali; Cox’s Bazar-2 will cover Ukhiya, Sadar and Eidgaon; while Cox’s Bazar-3 will cover Ramu, Chakaria, Pekua and Matamuhuri police stations.

Two tribunals – Cumilla-1 and Cumilla-2 – have been formed for Cumilla.

One tribunal each has also been formed for Brahmanbaria, Rajshahi district, Rajshahi Metropolitan area, Bogura, Dinajpur and Jashore districts.

Under the notification, ongoing cases under the Narcotics Control Act 2018 involving offences punishable by a minimum of five years or more will be transferred from existing courts to the newly formed tribunals within 60 days of the notification.

The transferred cases will continue from the stage at which they are handed over to the tribunals.