Eid Holiday Sees Over 10,000 Emergency Calls to 999

Bangladesh’s National Emergency Service 999 recorded a total of 10,078 calls seeking police assistance during the seven-day Eid-ul-Adha holiday period from May 25 to May 31. Among them, the highest number—1,974 calls—was related to physical altercations and clashes.

According to official data, the service also received 871 calls involving hostage situations, 802 requests for ambulance services, 663 reports of violence against women and children, 583 road accident-related calls, 530 complaints concerning family disputes, and 512 calls seeking assistance from the Fire Service in connection with fire incidents.

During the festive period, 366 calls were related to noise pollution, 305 concerned allegations of excessive bus fares and other transport-related irregularities, while 302 complaints involved extortion at cattle markets and the transfer of sacrificial animals from one market to another.

The remaining 3,170 calls covered various other issues.

An analysis of the calls indicates that, compared to previous years, incidents of major crimes such as theft, mugging, robbery, and personal vendetta-related killings were significantly lower this year.

Several notable and commendable incidents were also reported during the Eid holidays. On May 26, an auto-rickshaw driver was caught red-handed while allegedly stealing goats from a truck carrying sacrificial animals in the Tejgaon Office Crossing area and was handed over to police from Mohammadpur Police Station.

The following day, at Mouchak Crossing, a suspected snatcher was apprehended by members of the public while attempting to steal a woman’s mobile phone. After being assaulted by the crowd, he was rescued by Traffic Sergeant Newaz and handed over to police from Shahjahanpur Police Station.

On the same day, acting on a wireless message, Traffic Sergeant Rana Islam conducted an immediate operation, arresting three suspected robbers and recovering a hijacked pickup truck carrying six cattle and two goats.

In another incident on May 29, a private jeep attempting to evade a checkpoint on the Purbachal 300-Foot Expressway was intercepted. The driver was fined Tk 10,000 for operating the vehicle without a valid driving licence.

On May 30, after a bus lost control and collided with a moving covered van in the Mohakhali Satrasta area, injured individuals were swiftly transported to hospital with the assistance of pedestrians.

Anwar Sattar, Inspector (Media and Public Relations Officer) of National Emergency Service 999, said that while reports of altercations are common during Eid holidays every year, the number was comparatively higher this year.

He noted that most of the conflicts stemmed from land disputes, family disagreements, group rivalries, and local tensions.

According to sources, family gatherings during Eid often bring longstanding disputes back to the surface, resulting in a rise in complaints related to fighting and noise pollution during the holiday period.

While authorities generally responded promptly through local police stations and relevant agencies following 999 calls, some isolated complaints were made regarding the lack of satisfactory service.

One such complaint came from Shamima Akter, a resident of Baroghoria Lakshipur Khonapara in Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila. She alleged that after being attacked on May 27 following a dispute with neighbours over furniture purchases, she called 999, but although police visited the scene, no effective legal action was taken and no one was detained. She claimed the incident ruined her family’s Eid celebrations.

Responding to the allegation, Ekram Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station, said he could not immediately recall the specific case but had advised the complainant to contact the police station, adding that the matter would be reviewed.

However, many victims reported that while direct communication with police stations sometimes resulted in delays, officers typically arrived quickly and took immediate action when incidents were reported through 999.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies, including the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), strengthened security measures across the country, including in the capital, to ensure a safe and smooth Eid journey for travelers.

According to sources at Police Headquarters and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), special security arrangements and “mega checkpoints” were introduced at key locations across Dhaka from May 24 and remained operational until the end of the holiday period.

Special police patrol teams were also deployed at night to prevent theft, mugging, and robbery. As a result, no major untoward incidents were reported, and the overall security situation remained satisfactory throughout the Eid holidays.

DBTech/JNO/EK/OR