Dhaka, Dec. 11 -- The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted permission to 579 field-level officials of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) to use weapons.

These officials, ranging from deputy directors to sub-inspectors, will now be authorised to use 9 mm semi-automatic pistols (T-54), reports UNB.

Alongside this approval, the ministry has issued the "Department of Narcotics Control (Officers-Employees) Weapon Procurement and Usage Policy 2024."

The Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the policy on Tuesday.

According to the policy, the DNC serves as the nodal agency for curbing narcotics abuse in Bangladesh. Field-level officials regularly conduct narcotics recovery operations, arrest drug traffic...