Editorial
Police efficiency in Dhaka
Mere addition of thanas cannot ensure it
INCREASING demographic pressure on the metropolis and high incidence of crime must have prompted the government to decide to add eight more police stations to the existing 33 in the capital city. The metropolitan police commissioner while announcing the decision admitted that they were hectically looking for suitable buildings to house the police stations, which seem to be in short supply in the city. Meeting the specifications of a standard thana complex is a logistical issue of a specialised nature. Apparently, this was lost on the decision-makers so that the commissioning of the thanas is set to be delayed till such time as suitable accommodation has either been found and hired or built up by the police authorities themselves to suit their purposes.
It is very unfortunate that we are treated with routine regularity to the same old tale of big decisions being taken without any logistical planning to implement them. Has the wherewithal for setting up of the new police stations and making them work effectively been arranged? We have heard of thanas being so cash trapped that sometimes furniture and fixture of OC's office would be allegedly gifted by outsiders, obviously out of a vested interest. To add to the misfortune, the SI, ASI, havilders and constables have to work under crippling financial constraints. They often do not have the tools and working expenses for investigation, travelling and pursuit of crimes or criminals. These are palpable handicaps that put them at a disadvantage against criminals who are more mobile, in possession of increasingly sophisticated arms, and adept in the art of improvisation and innovation.
The metropolitan police commissioner sounded upbeat that the new thanas will make a definite dent in the crime situation. We would like to share his optimism, even though we firmly believe unless the police stations have the required wherewithal, they will perform the same way that other police stations have.
A special squad will focus around deceit and fraud in the community, we are informed. These concern human trafficking, fake advertisements, fake clinics and doctors, bogus land owners and brokers, imposters, fake teachers and teaching institutions etc. We believe some such crimes could not have crept in had the concerned departments worked properly. Anyway, as the police take on newer crimes, one would have thought that conventional crimes are on a decline. But the ground reality is somewhat different.
One thing that is noticeable is the uneven presence of the police force across the city. Police patrol is relatively missing in the inner city areas. The police must be provided with more motorbikes and three wheelers to increase their mobility. All in all, in this budget season, we want the policemen's functional constraints addressed properly.
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