Ctg Railway Police: Understaffed, overworked
Chattogram Government Railway Police (GRP) has been reeling from the manpower crisis on top of severe work pressure, creating extra pressure on police personnel.
Due to the manpower crisis, the security of passenger trains is being compromised, giving rise to the number of mugging, snatching and sexual harassment incidents on the trains.
Senior officials, however, said a proposal to recruit GRP rests on the higher authorities.
Sources in Chattogram GRP said currently around 350 policemen have been working under three police stations and six police outposts with patrol duties on running trains. GRP also investigates different kinds of criminal cases filed under its jurisdiction.
Admitting the limitations, rail police's additional inspector general Md Didar Ahmed said, "Around 2,100 of our policemen are at service across the country. We want to provide the best service to the people during their journey but we are struggling."
"Chattogram district is a significant place for railway communication. After commencing the new route, the workload will increase. It will be even tougher to provide service with a limited workforce," he added.
Currently around 350 policemen have been working under three police stations and six police outposts with patrol duties on running trains. GRP also investigates different kinds of criminal cases filed under its jurisdiction.
According to BR, there are 10 pairs of inter-city passenger trains running on different routes from Chattogram Railway Station. Each train is guarded by at least three to four railway policemen to ensure the safety of passengers. The workload increases during the times of festivals.
The Annual Performance Agreement (APA-2020) of the railway police mentioned that inadequate working force, the infrastructural crisis of offices, outposts, police stations and barracks, insufficient transport facilities and lack of security equipment and logistics are the main problems and challenges faced by them.
Seeking anonymity, several railway police personnel said the railway police are lagging compared to the other police units and senior officials should look into logistics support and accommodation facilities.
However, Chattogram Railway Superintendent of Police Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury denied that the area under his jurisdiction has a manpower crisis.
"The current size of the force in my zone is sufficient. We are serving our regular duties with the best effort," he said.
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