The Bangladesh Police Association has requested separate lanes or special booths at petrol pumps across the country, citing that long wait times for fuel are severely disrupting emergency police operations.
In a letter sent to the Inspector general of police (IGP) on Friday, the association highlighted that police vehicles are facing significant delays nationwide.
The letter, signed by association President Kamrul Hasan Talukdar and General Secretary Monirul Haque Dablu, stated that officers are forced to wait in queues for hours, wasting a large portion of their working time and hampering urgent service delivery.
The association noted that these delays specifically affect criminal raids, emergency patrols, rapid response to crime scenes for investigation, and assistance during disasters or accidents.
The letter further detailed that when police personnel attempt to collect fuel outside the queue for emergency reasons, they frequently encounter unpleasant situations, public dissatisfaction, and even fines from mobile courts.
To address these challenges, the association proposed that police officers be allowed to collect fuel on a priority basis by presenting their official identity cards. This measure would ensure that emergency service activities face no further obstructions.
Speaking to the TIMES of Bangladesh, association President and Special Branch (SB) Police Inspector Kamrul Hasan Talukdar said, “Our duties are hampered when we wait in line for fuel, yet we face fines from mobile courts if we try to collect fuel outside the line.”
