Dilapidated Dinajpur Railway Police Station building, which was constructed around 50 years ago, poses risk of accidents for policemen and visitors.
Around 45 policemen are working there amid fear of accident anytime. The building of the police station, restrooms and police barracks were built at the same time, sources said.
Besides, there is no road for vehicular movement. Duty officers, in-charge and constables of the police station are forced to take motorcycles on the platform as Dinajpur Railway Police Station (GRP) is completely blocked. As per the railway rules, the movement of vehicles on the platform is prohibited, and the policemen have to face public ridicule for this reason.
The police station and police barracks have now become risky due to large cracks in the roof and walls and seepage of water. Sometimes plaster cement peels from the middle ceiling and walls and serious accidents can happen at any time. In this way, police officers and police members have to do their duty risking their lives. Such situation continues for a long time as no new building has been constructed there replacing the old structures.
Officer-in-charge of Dinajpur Railway Police Station Md Emdadul Haque said the policemen, including him, have to do their duty amid life risk. “Sometimes the roof welding and the cement plaster of the wall come off. If there is a little rain, water seeps everywhere, furniture and necessary documents are being destroyed. The same situation continues in the police barracks and the resting policemen cannot sleep properly amid fear of accident. On the other hand, even though there is a police station and police barracks, there is no road for vehicles, we have to walk to our office with vehicles on the west bank of the platform,” he said.
Narayan Prasad Sarkar, an official of Bangladesh Railway’s Dinajpur Assistant Executive Engineer Office, said the longevity of the buildings of police station and police barracks has already expired and sometimes they do repair works by hiring contractors. To his knowledge, there is no new quarter [in the police station], he said.
Regarding rebuilding of the quarter, he said, “We will definitely rebuild the structures if we get permission of the senior officials of Bangladesh Railway.”
The role of the police is immense for the safety of people's lives and property. Peace and order prevails in the society only through the active role of the police. There is a police station office but there is no road, and police officers and members are working amid risk of lives. They cannot take rest properly.
Professionals, intellectuals and residents of Dinajpur district have urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Railways Minister Md Zillul Hakim and all the officials concerned of the Ministry of Railways to rebuild the police station and barracks.
