Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali announced on Saturday that any report of violence against women submitted through the HELP App would be treated as a First Information Report (FIR).
“If an incident of violence against women is recorded in the HELP App, it will be immediately considered an FIR,” he stated.
The DMP Commissioner made these remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the HELP App, launched by the Bangladesh Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC), at the Daily Star Bhaban on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, Sazzat Ali highlighted the distressing nature of violence against women and children.
He acknowledged that, in many cases, victims hesitate to report such incidents to law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, family members often choose to keep these incidents confidential for various reasons.
He pointed out that domestic workers are among the most vulnerable women in society, frequently subjected to mistreatment and even sexual harassment.
“As responsible citizens, we must create a safe and supportive environment for domestic workers,” he emphasised.
The HELP (Harassment Elimination Literacy Programme) App is designed to enhance women’s safety, particularly in public transport.
This mobile application enables women to seek immediate assistance, access emergency services, and report incidents of violence encountered in public transport within Dhaka Metropolitan City.
Initially, the project will be piloted on the Bashila-Sayedabad route in the capital. It is an initiative of the BJC, supported financially by the European Union (EU).
Dr Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, attended the event as a special guest. The event was presided over by Rejwanul Haq, President of the Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC).
