The Uttara east thana is housed in own building but has unmistakable signs of dilapidation. On the right side wall of the thana, there’s dumped earth and garbage, one sign board is covered by branches of a tree and despite a parking spot, vehicles are parked on the road. Only motorbikes of officers are kept within the premises.
Inaugurated on 31 May, 1997, the building is in a ramshackle state at the moment.
Outside the building, many impounded motor bikes are kept in apparent neglect. The bag containing evidence has layers of dust.
On the day of the visit to the thana, power went out in the evening and several officers were seen working with their mobile phone lights.
In the intolerable heat, constable guarding the armoury, seemed visibly troubled.
“Other thanas have IPS but this thana does not,” complained the distressed constable, sweating profusely in the heat.
The name plate of one officer is eroded and while talking about having a new one done when a fresh set of uniform comes, he informed: “a policeman gets four sets of uniforms in two years, one set full sleeve and three half sleeve.”
Outside the thana, there’s a small tea selling kiosk where members of the police and public are seen to be interacting over tea.
Inspector of Uttara east thana (operations), Mizanur Rahman Howlader, told Bangla Tribune: “usually, drug related cases and other general diaries are lodged here; crime rate is low in the area and we have sufficient force.”
Abdullahpur, DMP quarter, Mymensingh road, SB quarter fall within the purview of the thana.
One official of the thana said: “the jurisdiction of the thana is very small and there’s hardly any crime.”