DMP mulling police box-service centres under city flyovers

To ensure shelter for traffic police, ease their sufferings, and help citizens, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) wants to set up traffic police boxes and citizen service centres at unused areas under flyovers.

DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam raised the proposal while inaugurating such a structure, which functions as both the police box and service centre, at Shantinagar intersection yesterday.

He said traffic police are the first to respond to any kind of accident or crime on the road, and they take necessary steps to send victims to hospital along with providing first-aid.

"But they have no place to take shelter during storms, including natural disasters. Officers also suffer from various diseases, including kidney disease, as they do not have access to toilets," he said.

Considering these, such police boxes and service centres can be set up at unused places under flyovers, after consulting with the city corporation, he added.

It was learned that the proposed structures will house first-aid box, fire extinguisher, stretcher, potable water and other equipment.

The facility inaugurated at Shantinagar is under Motijheel Traffic Division. Some 19 other police boxes-cum-service centres will be set up at different intersections under the division in phases to help city dwellers maintain traffic rules and provide humanitarian assistance.

Citizens injured on the road will get necessary first-aid at the facility, Wahidul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of the division, told The Daily Star.