TDS Desk:

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjad Ali said the traffic sergeants will be allowed to carry small arms to prevent snatching on roads and highways.

He said the process to give them arms is underway.

The DMP chief said this at the opening ceremony of the BRT counter and e-ticketing system of buses in Dhaka at Azampur Kacha Bazar (BDR Market) in the Uttara area on Thursday.

“We are short on manpower. It is seen that many times the responsible members of the traffic police cannot do anything. For this reason, an initiative has been taken to give them small arms or light weapons,” he said.

He said, “Recently, there has been an increase in robberies, and strict measures have been imposed.”

A large number of robbers were arrested. As a result, the number of robberies in the last 15 days has decreased compared to before, he added.