A police station in name only

The structure is impressive and massive but not properly equipped with man and material. The Kuakata police station is of little use to the local people, tourists and fishermen in the coast. The photo was taken last week. PHOTO: STAR

Their lone electronic wireless set remains useless during loadshedding, which is 6 to 8 hours a day now.

This is how the Kuakata police station operates at the tourist spot in Patuakhali district.

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It was set up at Kuakata sea beach in 1993 to ensure safety of tourists and local people, specially fishermen in the coast.

It is manned by one sub-inspector (SI), two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) and 17 constables.

They can not communicate with other police stations or teams during loadshedding.

"We sought a generator long ago but do not know whether we will get it", a policeman told this correspondent during a visit.

There is no boundary wall or gate at the outpost. "Our guns and bullets are insecure. These can be easily looted by pirates who possess sophisticated firearms", he said.

They have no deep tubewell for drinking water. They have to fetch drinking water from nearby areas.

"Pirates often loot fishing boats but we can not move fast for want of speed boat and vehicle", said station-in- charge Nikhil Ranjan.

Fisherman Abdul Mannan said, "They (police) are of no help against pirates".

Another fisherman Akkas Ali said the policemen only patrol a limited area of the beach. "They have no ability to catch any snatcher or robber due to they have no even a motor cycle.

Hotel owner Anwar Hossain Anu at the sea beach laughingly said, "This (police station) is a sow only. Criminals escape safely after committing crimes as police move in rickshaws".

Nikhil Ranjan however said the police station is only a 'probe centre'. "We can only investigate cases in the area filed with Kalapara thana".