The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is unable to efficiently prevent crime or chase criminals in the city and across the country with the help of the China-made Zongshen 125cc motorbikes.

Source said there are about 1,050 Chinese motorbikes on patrol duty in the DMP. The quality and performance of these motorbikes were worse than that of the Japanese, Korean or Indian-made motorbikes for civilian use and mostly owned by private citizens in the country.

The most popular brands in the country are Japan made Honda 100cc to 125cc, Yamaha, 100cc to 135cc, Hynsung 125cc or 150cc made in Korea, Bajaj 135cc to 150cc models Pulsar and Discovery, Hero Honda 135cc to 150cc model CBZ and Hunk and TVs 100cc to 150cc, model Apache, Victor GL al made by Indian companies.

Most of these bikes are more powerful compared to the motorbikes at the disposal of the police. So the muggers and miscreants can easily out manoeuvre the crime chasers after committing a crime.

The immediate past government banned import of over 100cc motorbikes to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the speed and efficiency of these two-wheelers. But the present government opened import and marketing of more powerful motorbikes, thus leaving the police patrol teams with the less efficient Chinese bikes.

The police motorbikes even fail to apprehend a CNG run autorikshaw, which is mostly used in criminal activities in the city, including muggings, drug pedalling, abduction and other anti social activities nowadays.

At least 100 crime incidents occur everyday across the country under the very nose of the policemen.

Most of the police motorbikes are not properly maintained. The policemen in charge of these government assets do not even change engine oil in due time and do not care for its proper maintenance. The policemen get 50-liter of fuels for the motorbikes per month for daily patrol duty in the city.

A senior police official told the New Nation that a proposal was made to the government to issue the bikes permanently to the respective officers. The cost of the bikes could be deducted from their salaries, so that they maintain these vehicles properly as their personal assets.

Another high police official unwilling to disclose his name told the New Nation that the Government lacked knowledge about procurement of motorbikes for Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). As a result the DMP has failed miserably to prevent city crime.