JUST Anti-Drug Society Submits Memorandum Demanding Mandatory Dope Tests for Student Admissions

Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) Anti-Drug Society has submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor, urging mandatory dope tests for first-year student admissions and comprehensive measures to curb drug use on campus.

On Monday, May 19, 2025, the memorandum was presented to Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Majid. It emphasized the need for a drug-free, healthy educational environment to foster an ethical society. “Universities are where future citizens are shaped, but many have become hubs for drug abuse in the past. The ‘July Revolution’ has opened new avenues for change, with a drug-free campus as a key demand,” the memorandum stated. It proposed introducing dope tests for admissions and, upon graduation, starting from the 2024–25 academic year, to raise awareness and establish JUST as a safe, drug-free institution.

The memorandum outlined specific measures:

1. Establishing a transparent process for conducting dope tests for incoming students.
2. Making dope test results a condition for admission.
3. Incorporating penalties for public smoking within university premises into JUST’s regulations, aligned with Bangladesh’s Constitution.
4. Canceling the enrollment of students found using drugs and taking necessary legal action.

Additionally, it highlighted the university’s responsibility to ensure a drug-free campus, support national anti-drug policies, protect students’ mental and physical well-being, shield them from the harmful effects of drugs, and uphold the institution’s reputation.

The JUST Anti-Drug Society stressed that a drug-free campus is essential for nurturing a sound academic system and building a progressive society, citing past instances where universities became drug havens. The initiative aligns with broader calls for reform in Bangladesh’s educational institutions following recent socio-political movements.