One-stop service for women, children
Around 10:30am on Friday, 28-year-old Amena Begum was found pacing in front of the duty-officer's room at Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station.
She wanted to file a complaint but was hesitant to talk.
Noticing the situation, Constable Jannat of the station took her to the service desk for "women, children, disabled persons and elderly", where Sub-inspector Fahima Khanam was providing service. All officers in the room were women.
Amena then started talking to SI Fahima and informed that her husband, a driver by profession, would not buy food for her and their child, and often verbally abused her.
Fahima wrote down Amena's complaint and called her husband to the station. Police then asked him to not misbehave with Amena and provide food expenses properly.
During a visit to the station on Friday, this correspondent met Amena after the issue was resolved. "I never thought police would take action for my problem so promptly. I'm happy and delighted to get this quick service," she said.
SI Fahima, officer of the service desk, told The Daily Star that they have registered around 218 complaints at the desk between January and April, most of them over family conflicts.
"We have successfully managed to settle around 198 complaints by holding meetings with families. The rest were registered as cases," said Fahima.
"Women and children are often afraid or hesitant to talk about their problems. The desk is for providing service to them," Fahima explained. "Rape victims often do not feel comfortable to talk to male officers, but those days are gone, as we are here to help."
OC Mohammad Shahzaman of the station said five women officers were assigned to the service desk to address complaints round the clock. These officers have a room to rest on the upper floor of the station, so that the desks never remain unattended.
According to Police Headquarters (PHQ), to provide one-stop service to women, children, those with disabilities and the elderly, the service desk has been launched at all 659 police stations across the country, marking the birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would formally inaugurate the initiative today through a virtual arrangement, said PHQ.
A separate room has been arranged at every police station, in which a woman sub-inspector with a handful of trained women officers will provide service.
The desk will also inform visitors about other government services and provide legal aid to victims who are not financially well-off, according to PHQ.
SI Laboni Khanam of Siddhirganj Police Station and officer of the service desk said the desk has been providing services since the last two years at the station.
OC Moshiur Rahman of the station said they are raising awareness about the desk through beat-policing and public meetings.
Contacted, Haider Ali Khan, deputy inspector general (DIG) of PHQ, said district police superintendents, range DIG's and metropolitan commissioners were instructed to monitor service-desk activities closely.
Besides, PHQ also monitors desk activities to ensure the best service, he added.
The special desk started on a pilot basis from January 2020. So far, 1.81 lakh women, 32,286 children, 1.38 lakh elderly people and 11,081 people with disabilities have received the service, according to PHQ data.
HOME FOR THE HOMELESS
Bangladesh Police has built 520 houses for homeless people under the jurisdiction of 519 police stations across the country.
Each house, which has three rooms and 415 square feet of space, cost around Tk 25 lakh, according to police headquarters. PHQ officials said primarily, they are handing over 400 of the houses to homeless families. Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative today.
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