Dhaka police are forced to dump seized vehicles on roadsides next to police stations as they do not have any permanent impound lots.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Traffic, Admin and Research) Shafiqur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune: “There is no permanent impound lot in Dhaka city, but police do dump cars at eight temporary impound lots. However, even these temporary lots are filled to capacity with errant vehicles.”
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe temporary impound lots are located in the Shahbagh police station, Darus Salam Footover Bridge, Agargaon, Wari Postogola bridge, Bosila, Dholaikhal, and Airport Road areas.
DMP Joint Commissioner (South) Abu Rayhan Mohammad said three of the temporary lots are dedicated for the traffic department, who use them to store vehicles without documents, or those related to narcotics and accident cases.
“When there is no space at the temporary lots, vehicles are sent to police stations. When the police station is also filled up, the seized vehicles have to be kept on the roadside in front of the police station,” he added.
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Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
According to him, around 2,000-3,000 vehicles are currently being kept at the temporary impound lots.
When contacted, Officer-in-Charge of Banani police station Noor-e-Azam said: “There are a few temporary lots, but we have never really been able to send any vehicles there due to lack of space.”
He added that keeping the seized vehicles on the roadside was the last resort.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneWhen asked whether DMP were going to get permanent impound lots, DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner Shafiqur Rahman said: “We have requested permanent grounds and impound lots from the Home Ministry, but we haven’t received them yet. The process is underway to secure a permanent location on the Dhaka-Chittagong road or in Purbachal.”
However, the acquisition of land and development of impound lots is a lengthy process, he added.