TDS Desk:

In a bid to enhance the operational capacity of the police and address current infrastructural shortcomings, the government has undertaken a special project to build police infrastructures, including new stations, units, outposts, camps, and investigation centres.

According to officials at the Planning Commission, upon approval, the project titled “Construction of Police Stations, Outposts, Investigation Centeres, Camps, River Police Units, Railway Police Stations, Tourist Police Centers, and Highway Police Posts at Various Locations Across the Country,” will be implemented at a cost of Tk730.58 crore.

The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) reviewed the proposal in a meeting on 21 October last year, with Suleman Khan, member (secretary) of the Physical Infrastructure Division, in the chair.

The primary focus of the meeting was to assess proposals for infrastructure development aimed at strengthening police units and enhancing their operational efficiency.

From the meeting, a recommendation was made to integrate revised designs and layouts into the Detailed Project Proposal (DPP).

Once these observations are incorporated by the relevant departments, the project can move forward. If approved, approximately 140 new police stations, camps, outposts, and related facilities are expected to be built over the next three years (2024-2027), with an estimated budget of Tk730 crore.

The project aims to increase the capacity of the Bangladesh Police, particularly in the southwestern regions, where police camps and outposts play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of citizens, foreign nationals, and transportation networks.

Currently, many of these facilities operate from temporary and inadequate buildings, which impede effective functioning.

Given the growth in tourism and road traffic in Bangladesh, strengthening security on highways, railways, and waterways has become essential.

This project will address these challenges by establishing new infrastructure to improve the operational capabilities of various police units, including the river police, railway police, tourist police, and highway patrols, according to the project proposal.

Representatives from the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) discussed evaluation reports from past projects and emphasised the importance of incorporating those findings into the current Detailed Project Proposal (DPP).

The IMED also highlighted the need for formal approval from Bangladesh Railway for building railway police stations.

A significant topic of discussion was the recruitment of staff for the new facilities. The finance ministry pointed out that while the proposal includes the hiring of eight new staff members, it was unclear whether the staffing committee’s recommendations had been considered.

The police department confirmed that the proposal had been submitted to the finance ministry, and once recommendations are received, they would be integrated into the DPP.

The Planning Commission requested that the revised proposal be resubmitted for further review. The size and layout of the proposed buildings will be tailored to staffing needs and prioritised guidelines, with detailed floor plans included in the final DPP.

Designs for the new police facilities, such as outposts, camps, investigation centers, and police stations, would be revised and included in the updated DPP.

To streamline project management, the procurement plan will consolidate the number of packages and organise them by district.

Construction costs will be estimated based on the 2022 rate schedule from the Public Works Department to ensure budget accuracy.

Recommendations for staffing and proposals for purchasing essential furniture and equipment will be aligned with priority guidelines.

Police Department officials stated that this project will greatly enhance the operational capacity of law enforcement and improve public safety throughout Bangladesh.

They added that the Planning Commission recommended project approval to strengthen police infrastructure and bolster nationwide security.