DHAKA:  Police stations in the capital did not get expected responses in filing the general diaries (GDs) online even after five months of launching the service.

Senior police officials blamed poor publicity for such responses.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) introduced the modern service in police stations in line with government’s electoral pledge to build a "Digital Bangladesh”.

Uttara Model Police Station was first to launch the service on the first of March.

With introduction of the service, the number of filing general diaries stood over 2,000 in five months. Most of them were filed with Gulshan thana.

System Analyst of Police Sharmin Afroz told banglanews24.com.bd that the police stations have internet access.

She said the GD page will appear when someone clicks on the link of Citizen`s help request option after visiting the website of police (www.police.gov.bd or www.dmp.bd.gov).

The GD page contains a number of forms, which will be filled in depending on the problems, she added.    

“Filing GD online is almost similar to filing the same on a paper with a police station. If it is online filing, the complainant does not need a signature,” she said.

DMP Commissioner AKM Shaidul Haque is popular for his tech-savvy attitude. Over an SMS, he told banglanews24.com.bd that the online filing of GD did not encourage them as yet.

DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media and Community Service) Md. Walid Hossain told banglnews24.com.bd that the initial response for online service was huge.

But, people lost their interest in this regard due to lack of publicity, he added.

The highest number of GDs was filed online in March-April period.

The number started decreasing afterwards which stood at showed almost zero in August.

BDST 2200 HRS AUG 17, 2010