The government has officially launched the 999 emergency helpline after a year in the testing phase.
Police, fire service and ambulance services will be available from any phone (mobile or fixed line) dialling the number.
The project was inaugurated on Tuesday by Prime Minister’s Adviser on ICT Affairs Sajeeb Wazed, popularly known as Joy, says, BDNEWS24
Joy also inspected the call centre after unveiling the National Emergency Services 999 Centre at the Metropolitan Police Crime Command and Control Centre at Dhaka’s Abdul Gani Road.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Public Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin were all present at the event chaired by Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque.
The service will be monitored and managed by the police force. The 999 number is completely ‘toll free’ and citizens will not need to pay a fee to use it.
When to call?
# When someone witnesses a crime
# When someone fears for his or her life
# When someone is hurt or injured
# When someone is in danger
# When a fire breaks out
# When someone is in urgent need of an ambulance
The police say skilled and trained personnel are ready to provide 24-hour service.
The ICT Division launched the experimental phase of the National Emergency Service last year at Kaliakoir High-Tech Park. The experimental service ran from Oct 1, 2016 to Jun 30, 2017.
On Oct 8, State Minister for ICT Palak told the media that the service had received 3.3 million calls during the experimental service.
Of the calls, 64.8 percent requested police services, 31.1 percent requested the fire service and 4.1 percent requested ambulance services.
