Additional IGP of Tourist Police, Mohammad Mainul Hasan, stated that tourists often feel frustrated due to the lack of various facilities and other reasons at different tourist spots across the country. Unable to find someone to talk to, they turn to the Tourist Police, sharing their frustrations with them from a place of trust.
He made these comments during a courtesy meeting with the newly elected executive committee of the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) on Monday (27 January).
He said that when the Tourist Police unit first started its journey as a specialized unit of Bangladesh Police, it had only 600 personnel. Currently, the number has grown to nearly 1,400.
According to government figures, there are approximately 1,600 tourist spots across the country. However, the Tourist Police is providing continuous security at 130 spots across 32 districts. Additionally, if any foreign tourists or tourist groups seek security while touring Bangladesh, the Tourist Police offers support. He emphasized that they aim to make the country's tourism management safer through the Tourist Police.
Regarding the challenges faced by the Tourist Police, he mentioned that Cox's Bazar Sea Beach, the country's largest tourist spot, lacks adequate toilets, changing rooms after swimming, and safe places to store mobile phones or bags. Despite these issues, a large number of tourists continue to visit Cox's Bazar regularly. Tourists often express their frustrations about these matters to the Tourist Police.
During the meeting, Additional Police Superintendent (Media), Nadia Farzana, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the activities of the Tourist Police. She shared that, in addition to ensuring security, the Tourist Police patrol tourist-heavy areas, assist in running mobile courts, raise awareness and provide training to hotel, motel, and resort owners, and set up high-resolution cameras at important tourist spots for real-time monitoring. She suggested that to improve safety further, vehicles suitable for mountain roads and surveillance or rescue drones should be acquired.
She also mentioned that a Tourist Police booth would be set up at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This booth will help foreign tourists gain information about various tourist destinations in Bangladesh as soon as they arrive, as well as offer assistance with any police security needs during their travels within the country.
The meeting was attended by Additional DIGs from the Tourist Police, including Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain from Dhaka-Sylhet-Mymensingh Division, Mohammad Iqbal from Khulna-Barisal Division, Bidhan Tripura from Chittagong Division, and Mohammad Shah Jalal from the Tourist Police Headquarters. Also present were Superintendent of Police (Logistics and Development) S.M. Jahangir Alam Sarkar.
They stated that to allow the Tourist Police to work smoothly, certain legal barriers and limitations must be removed, and the workforce must be increased. The unit is currently operating from a rented three-floor building on Topkhana Road. There is an urgent need for land and infrastructure for the unit.
Additionally, they highlighted the necessity of providing specialized modern training to the Tourist Police abroad.
Representatives from ATJFB, including President Tanzim Anwar, General Secretary Baten Bipul, Joint Secretary Mohammad Shafiullah Suman, Organizing Secretary Julhas Kabir, and Executive Members Masud Rumi, Khalid Ahsan, Golam Mortuza Antu, and General Member Sarwar Alam, were also present.
Tanzim Anwar praised the role of the Tourist Police in tourist spots across the country, noting that thanks to them, tourists can enjoy time at the beach even in the middle of the night.
He also suggested organizing seminars and workshops with ATJFB to further discuss the activities of the Tourist Police.
