In Godagari upazila of Rajshahi, a drug-addicted man named Zahurul Islam requested the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) to send him to jail so he could overcome his addiction. After visiting the UNO office for three consecutive days with the same plea, a mobile court sentenced him to five months of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 100 taka, with an additional seven days in jail if unpaid. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, July 1, and he was later sent to Rajshahi Central Jail.

The mobile court was conducted by Godagari UNO and Executive Magistrate Israt Jahan under the Narcotics Control Act. Zahurul, a resident of Jahanabad village, had previously served six months in prison for a drug-related case but failed to quit his addiction. According to the local police officer-in-charge, Zahurul repeatedly expressed his desire to be jailed to recover from addiction.

The UNO stated that Zahurul’s family also supported his request, and the decision was made considering his and his family’s appeal within the legal framework.