S A Shofiee,Sylhet:
The police have reported visible changes in the law and order situation, traffic congestion management and police services in the first 100 days of assuming office as the Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.
On September 10, Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, PPM assumed office as the Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.
After assuming office, he announced the goal of transforming Sylhet metropolis into a safe, disciplined and modern smart city and announced the adoption of a zero tolerance policy in crime control. In continuation of this, several special operations were conducted in the metropolitan area under the direction of the Commissioner.
According to police information, the estimated value of the illegal smuggled goods seized in the operations conducted from September 10 to December 18 is 5 crore 44 lakh 80 thousand 717 taka. 152 people were arrested for various crimes under Operation Devil Hunt. At the same time, 550 lost and stolen mobile phones were recovered and 88 victims were rescued, the police said.
During the anti-drug operation, 3,685 pieces of Yaba, 1,459 bottles of foreign liquor, 393 liters of distilled liquor, 9 kg 419 grams of marijuana and 97 bottles of Phensedyl were recovered. In addition, 119 people, including identified and listed robbers, thieves and robbers, were arrested. 47 people were arrested on charges of involvement in immoral activities and 9 hotels were sealed. According to the police, 16 rounds of lead bullets from a shotgun, 10 rounds of rubber cartridges and two weapons looted by the police were recovered in the operation. One lakh eighty-two thousand taka taken through bKash fraud was recovered. A total of 180 cases have been registered for drug and smuggling-related crimes. More than 2,000 people have been arrested for various crimes, the police said.
The Traffic Department is conducting regular operations to resolve traffic congestion. During this time, 6,133 vehicles were seized. A fine of Tk 1.68 million 11,800 was collected in 3,755 cases. Police said that action has been taken against illegal stands, unregistered vehicles, illegal CNG and rickshaws, vehicles without route permits and random parking. The fare of CNG and pedal rickshaws has been rationally determined, additional fare collection has been stopped and a ban on heavy vehicles entering the city outside the specified time has been implemented.
After assuming office, the Police Commissioner held a series of meetings with journalists working in Sylhet, political party leaders, business representatives, Imam Association, hotel owners, travel agents, transport owner-labor organizations, market committees and heads of educational institutions. In light of the problems and suggestions raised in these meetings, immediate and long-term action plans were taken, a part of which has already been implemented, according to the police.
The technology-based ‘GenieA’ app has been launched to make police services easier and faster for citizens. This app provides an opportunity to provide emergency police assistance and crime-related information. Initiatives have been taken to gradually add other services including online GD and cases, CCTV and AI analysis, drone surveillance. Currently, the GenieA app has been launched and help desks have been set up in all police stations in the metropolis.
Police said that the metropolis has been almost free of battery-powered rickshaws by conducting a campaign against battery-powered rickshaws as part of environmental protection. Footpaths have been cleared of encroachment and opened for the movement of the general public, and orders have been given to move shops encroaching on roads to designated places.
In order to increase social awareness, an ‘Awareness and Socialization’ program has been launched in 118 educational institutions in the metropolis under the direction of the Police Commissioner. It is providing guidance on drugs, eve-teasing, online gambling, child marriage, traffic laws and the environment. As a tourist city, surveillance has been strengthened in residential hotels and travel agencies in Sylhet and measures are being taken against human trafficking and fraud, including document verification.
In addition, the decision to close all shops except hotels, restaurants and pharmacies after 9:30 pm is being implemented to save electricity. To raise public awareness, the Police Commissioner attended Friday prayers at various mosques and highlighted the importance of public involvement in maintaining social order, abiding by the law and preventing crime.
The police said that the decisions taken after assuming office are being implemented step by step and the city residents are already getting the benefits.
