On March 1, the government launched a new initiative called Service Delivery System at 9 police stations under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) where each police station would have a designated police officer for filing in complaints or cases. The service was introduced to the remaining 24 police stations of the city on March 8.

Introduction of the system has turned the atmosphere of police stations more inviting and people-friendly. Since more people are now coming forward to take advantage of the friendly system, police stations are getting swamped with cases. This scenario however is alarming for police officials because their human resources were not increased to cope with the increased number of cases.

According to DMP records, average number of cases filed each month do not exceed 2,000. In February this year, number of cases filed was 1,896. After introduction of the new system, within only 15 days till March 15, police stations witnessed a staggering 1,395 cases.

After introduction of the new system, number of sub-inspectors to investigate cases under the 33 police stations and detective branch of police still remains at 850.

Before launching the service, each sub-inspector used to handle 20 cases on average. "Even handling 20 cases was a tremendous pressure since beside investigating, a sub-inspectors has to perform many other tasks such as patrolling, writing cases and often attending case hearings at courts," said a sub-inspector at DMP.

Officials at police stations had always unofficially employed a 'writer' for filling out forms and writing down information of a case so that the officials can perform other tasks. The officials used to bear the writer's expenses. After the changed political scenario in the country, police officials cannot afford to employ a writer now since they do not have any means of 'extra' income any more.

About the massive number of cases piled up after launching the Service Delivery System, the sub-inspector said, "I can not imagine what will happen and how it can be handled since we no longer can afford to have a writer."

Another sub-inspector told Star City that he was just transferred to DMP recently and he was oblivious about what to do with the huge number of cases on hand. "This is my first time in DMP and I don't even know this town very well yet."

About the investigation capacity of DMP, three top officials of DMP told Star City that they would take measures to solve the problem as soon as possible.

When asked what type of measures they would take, two of them avoided the question while the other said the issue is still being discussed, and they could not reach a solution yet. He also said currently, a sub-inspector is handling at least 30 to 35 cases.

If the workforce is not increased soon, the overburdened sub-inspectors might fail to investigate their cases properly and that might lead to the denial of justice, he observed.

Naim Ahmed, DMP commissioner, told Star City that the vacant posts of sub-inspectors would be filled within a short time by transferring in sub-inspectors from outside the capital. " I know the situation is stressful for my officers, but they should keep this in mind that everyone has to go through the pressure to do something good for the country."