Govt. plans to set up 100 more workstations for quick 999 services

The government is considering to set up 100 more additional workstations including a large scale one aimed at enhancing the operational capacities of the National Emergency Number 999.

It will make the services faster and secure, said Additional DIG of Police and head of 999 services Mohiul Islam.

The new workstations will be set up in Purbachal and a large-scale one in Amulia of Demra thana at a cost of Taka 552 crore, Mohiul said.
 
If the project is implemented, it will enable us to provide faster, more accurate and secure services to the citizens, he said.
   
“The National Emergency Number 99 services have built a place of trust among people with rendering prompt and effective services,” the DIG added. 

The scope of services is increasing, however its capacity is still limited, he said, adding that the service providers receive about 24,000 calls daily, mostly unnecessary.
 
“The unnecessary calls not only mentally make our call takers upset, but also delay real emergency calls, which can sometimes be life-threatening,” he added.
 
To address the issue, we are running various media campaigns to raise public awareness in this regard. Besides, we are trying to manage call handling more professionally and sensitively by hiring trained young and educated staff, he said.

The national emergency services '999' has become an indispensable part of public life as it helps provide prompt emergency services in line with the information from the callers in need.

The toll-free 24/7 service connects citizens to police, fire, and ambulance services. One can get the emergency services by dialing the number. The services are managed by the police and can be accessed from any phone.

Currently, the 999 receives around 24,000 calls per day with manpower of only 80 call takers and 20 dispatchers. Of the total calls, around 56 percent are unnecessary or annoying, the DG said.

To sensitize the people on the emergency service, he said, the authorities have plan to conduct campaign in the educational institutions, mosques and communities using the community policing system.
 
Media and public relations officer of the National Emergency Service Anwar Sattar said, unwarranted calls are creating a major bottleneck in the 999 services, barring the real service seekers from getting assistance at the time in need.