96pc of CMP cops lives in rented houses

Publication Date: 14 June, 2016

Media: The Independent

Original Link: 96pc of CMP cops lives in rented houses

E-paper Link: 96pc of CMP cops lives in rented houses

The accommodation crisis in the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has compelled its members to live in rented houses among common people. There is a major risk factor involved in this, particularly after an SP’s wife was murdered in Chittagong.

It is found that 96 per cent members of the CMP are living in rented houses in different areas of the city. Living with common people exposes family members to threats or attacks, police officers told The Independent on condition of anonymity.  Currently, there are 6,766 policemen in the CMP.

However, only 272 of them have been provided with accommodation. The rest 6,478 live in rented houses.

Mainul Hasan, additional police commissioner (administration and finance), told The Independent: “No one has 100 per cent accommodation facilities. A new police line is going to be set up on 13 acres in the city’s Mansurabad area. A high-rise building will provide accommodation for the policemen. When complete, it would ease the crisis to some extent.”

After the murder of Mahamuda Khanam Mitu, wife of Babul Akter, superintendent of police (SP) in Chittagong, by motorcycle-borne miscreants near her home, the question arises about the security of family members of policemen.

Many police officers expressed deep concern regarding the security of their family members after this incident. “This is the first time a family member of a policeman has come under attack. We are trying to fathom why the killing took place. Obviously, our primary concern now is security of family members of policemen,” said CMP commissioner Iqbal Bahar.

There have been other incidents, too. On May 27, Zafar Ahmed, a sub-inspector (SI) of Akbar Shah police station in Chittagong, was suspended after his service pistol and 16 rounds of bullet were stolen from his rented flat near the police station. He came to the police station at 11am and stayed there till 12pm. Returning home, he found the door broken and the pistol, bullets and Tk. 17,000 in cash missing. The CMP suspended Zafar for negligence. Some policemen said had he stayed in a secured area of a police lines, the theft would not have taken place.  The CMP commissioner himself stays in a government-allotted house which is vested enemy property. In the CMP, there are three additional commissioners. Two of them live in rented houses, while one stays in a house allotted by the government and is vested enemy property.

The CMP has not been able to provide accommodation to its 12 deputy commissioners (DCs) and 23 assistant deputy commissioners (ADCs). They are living in rented houses in the city among common people, said documents provided by the DC (headquarters) of the CMP.

About seven assistants commissioners (ACs) are staying in vested enemy properties, while 25 ACs are living in rented houses, said Faruk Ahmed, deputy commissioner (headquarters) of the CMP.  Among the 118 inspectors of the CMP, only eight are fortunate to live in vested enemy property, and the rest have made their own arrangements.

From constable to ASI, the CMP has a total of 6,589 members. Only 272 of them stay at the Dampara police lines in the Chawkbazar area.