Foreign diplomats, officials of various United Nations agencies, and visiting foreign tourists in Bangladesh can now access the national emergency service 999 in English. To avail of services in English, callers must press ‘2’ after dialing 999.
This announcement was made in a statement signed by Additional Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Tabarak Ullah, the head of 999, on Thursday, February 13.
According to the statement, foreign nationals working in diplomatic missions, UN organizations, and development agencies, as well as expatriates and visiting tourists in Bangladesh, can now call 999 in English using any Bangladeshi mobile operator’s SIM card or a landline. Through this service, they can request emergency assistance from the police, fire service, or ambulance services.
Under the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), necessary measures have been taken to ensure emergency services for foreign nationals.
Additional DIG Mohammad Tabarak Ullah further stated that this service has been operational since January 12. To facilitate English-speaking callers, a dedicated duty desk has been assigned across three daily shifts.
