-3,500 traffic policemen on duty across Dhaka
- 5 to 6 hours at road is dangerous for policemen
In intense heatwave, the road at Bijoy Sarani intersection of the capital Dhaka is burning like fire. The members of the traffic police are standing and performing their duty to keep the vehicular movement normal at this important junction of the city. One of them, a young traffic constable, is seen directing motorists with hand signals. His clothes are wet with body sweat in intense heat. Sweat is constantly pouring from the head. He is adamant in carrying out his duties despite the 39 degree heat in the capital. There were 3 more Traffic Constables on duty at that intersection like the young one.
These traffic constables said in the light of time, “I am burning in the intense heat on the road, heat comes every year. But this is the first such hot situation. The pitch of the road is also melting in the heat of the sun. On one side, the road is heated by the heat of the sun, and on the other side, by the smoke of cars. The street is on fire. It is accompanied by the pain of the sound of vehicle horns and hooters (electric horns). Still we have to do our duty as the government is paying us for this work. Government pays money instead of responsibility and duty. I leave home in the morning thinking that we have to fulfill our duties even in summer. Many times I get sick while doing duty in this summer. But the good news is that our officials are looking into these issues. They are cooperating with us by providing various materials including water, saline, juice, syrup, and umbrella.”
3,500 traffic policemen are on duty in the capital to keep the vehicles of the city residents running in such an intense heat wave. Their clothes are drenched in sweat while performing their duties in the hot sun. They are holding an umbrella in one hand and signaling the movement of the car with the other hand. However, traffic members standing in the sun for a long time are suffering from dehydration, headaches and physical weakness along with heatstroke. Some suffer from dehydration. People with high blood pressure, in particular, have more trouble performing duties in the heat.
According to DMP sources, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) traffic department has a total of 3 thousand 876 members from additional commissioner to constable. Among them 3 thousand 500 members work directly in the field. Traffic police members work in three shifts. The first shift is from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm. The second shift is from 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM. Night shift from 11 am to 3 am.
In another intersection, it was seen on the ground that 13 traffic members were on duty at Karwan Bazar junction in the capital on Monday. Sometimes standing on the balcony of different buildings or in the shade of trees, they perform the duty of decongesting the road. Not only Bijoy Sharani, the traffic police members of various areas including Karwan Bazar, Motijheel, Paltan, Fakirapool, Shantinagar, Shahbagh, Farmgate, Malibagh and Rampura of the capital were also seen performing their duty in the hot sun. However, in this intense heat wave, the number of people in the city is relatively less. Meanwhile, water carts were kept by the police at various points. Common people and policemen drink water from there.
Dr. Sudip Ranjan Dev, professor of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said that anyone can get sick if they stay in the sun for 5 to 6 hours at this temperature. The biggest risk is heatstroke. If the body temperature suddenly rises above 106 degrees, the face turns red and the person concerned may become dizzy and fall. In this situation, he advised to consume water and saline little by little.
Munibur Rahman, DMP Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic Chief) said regarding the performance of traffic police duty, public life has been disrupted due to severe heat wave. At this moment, the traffic policemen are standing on the pave road wearing uniforms in the hot sun and are concentrating on their duties. At this time, the IGP and DMP Commissioner have taken various initiatives to increase the morale of the traffic policemen. As a result of taking this measure, on the one hand the morale of the force is being boosted; on the other hand, the city dwellers are getting the best service from the traffic department even in the heat wave.
ZH
