Additional Inspector General of tourist police Md Mainul Hasan said that visitors to various tourist spots in the country are often disappointed due to a lack of facilities.
He made this remark on Monday during a courtesy meeting with the newly elected executive committee of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB).
He said that tourists, finding trust in the tourist police, frequently share their grievances with the force.
Mainul Hasan highlighted that when the tourist police was established as a specialized unit of the Bangladesh police, it started with only 600 personnel.
Currently, the force has grown to approximately 1,400 members.
Officially, Bangladesh has about 1,600 tourist spots, but the tourist police provide uninterrupted security at 130 locations across 32 districts.
They also extend support to foreign tourists or groups visiting Bangladesh if they request security. "We want the Tourist Police to ensure safer tourism management in the country," he said.
Discussing challenges faced by the force, he said the largest tourist spot in Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar beach, lacks sufficient toilets, changing rooms, and secure storage for personal belongings like bags and phones.
Despite these shortcomings, the destination continues to attract a large number of visitors.
However, tourists often share their frustrations with the tourist police regarding these issues.
During the meeting, Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) Nadia Farzana presented a PowerPoint highlighting the activities of the tourist police.
She explained that, in addition to providing security, the force engages in patrolling tourist areas, assisting in mobile court operations, raising awareness among hotel and resort owners, and conducting training sessions.
High-resolution cameras have been installed at key tourist spots for real-time monitoring.
She also mentioned the need for vehicles suitable for hilly terrains and surveillance or rescue drones to enhance safety measures.
She further added that a tourist police booth would be set up at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
From this booth, foreign tourists will receive information about various tourist destinations in Bangladesh upon arrival and support for any police assistance required during their travels.