Police officials last night placed a series of demands before Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, including increasing the number of emergency hotline 999 call-takers, modernising forensic laboratories, and procuring new vehicles for the force.
The demands were raised during a conference between senior police officials and the minister at the Rajarbagh Police Lines auditorium in the capital, organised as part of Police Week 2026.
Several senior police officials who attended the closed-door meeting confirmed the matter to The Daily Star.
A deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, requesting anonymity, said the force currently receives around 25,000 calls daily through the national emergency service hotline 999, while only about 100 personnel are assigned to take the calls.
“We need more people to receive the emergency calls. Initially, we sought to raise the number to 200 as quickly as possible, with a long-term plan to expand it to 500,” the official said.
An SP who attended the meeting said discussions were also held on the limitations of existing forensic facilities.
“At present, the country’s four forensic laboratories in divisional cities do not have adequate facilities for all types of forensic examinations. As a result, investigations into many cases are delayed. We demanded modernisation of the forensic labs,” he told The Daily Star.
The officials also called for increasing manpower in the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) police unit and transport facilities for the police department.
A deputy commissioner of the DMP said demands were also made to increase manpower at the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) to form more battalions.
“Additional APBn battalions are needed in the Dhaka area to ensure national security. Otherwise, maintaining law and order will become difficult,” the officer said.
According to sources at the conference, the home minister responded positively to the demands. He assured officials that the number of 999 call takers would soon be increased to 200.
He also said the remaining demands would be implemented gradually, considering the government’s financial capacity, resources, and priorities.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and Senior Secretary at the home ministry Monjur Morshed Chowdhury addressed the conference as special guests.
Additional IGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Mosleh Uddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech, while Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir gave the vote of thanks.
Senior police officials, including additional IGPs, DIGs, additional DIGs, and superintendents of police, attended the event.
