Better services at police stations for citizens top the list of priorities of the new chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

“If public complain about not being treated fairly and do not receive the desired service in police stations under my jurisdiction, then I will take over the post of OC in that police station.

“I will personally attend to the needs of some of the citizens,” Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam told a media call on Sunday (Sept 15).

He said all activities in the police stations must be monitored, so that there are no cases of harassment.

The DMP commissioner said: "After taking charge, I immediately held meetings with all OCs and deputy commissioners (DC) in Dhaka. They have been given necessary and strict instructions regarding monitoring.

"We must take necessary measures to ensure that ordinary people are able to overcome their fear of law enforcement officials."

He further said: "We must also ensure that any person can file a case or enter a general diary without getting harassed or getting victimized at police stations. The feeling of getting co-operation from the police must be invoked in the person when he leaves the police station."

"We have to keep an eye on the police stations so that no one becomes a victim of harassment, extortion, or needs to resort to bribery in exchange of police service. Actions will be taken if any complaint arises against any person," he added.

Responding to queries on why Dhaka city OCs are transferred within the city, he said, “A specialized experience is required to work for the metropolitan.”

He added that there is a stark difference between working at a district level and metropolitan and hence the OCs can be transferred within the city unless there are specific complaints against them.

On the recent transfer of DMP ACs and DCs outside Dhaka, he said, “there’s a difference between the work of senior officials and OCs.”

The DMP chief said that street knowledge is required to work at a police station but DMP was still preparing new officers and posting them according to their experience.