As per the scheme, DMP commissioner Ashraful Huda will meet with all Sub-Inspe- ctors (SI) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI) of the 22 police stations.

"As part of the programme I met with a group of SIs and ASIs and asked them to give patient hearing to those who visit the police stations. If necessary entertain them with cups of tea or glasses of sarbat (lime juice)," Ashraful Huda told journalists at a exchange of views programme at Rajarbagh telecom auditorium last week.

The commissioner said he would meet with all the SIs and ASIs in two weeks, stating that the government agreed to provide funds to entertain visitors. Earlier, no such funds were given to the police stations by the government.

Huda said incidents of crime have decreased in 2003 in comparison to 2002. He said that a total of 16,897 criminal cases were lodged in the DMP area in 2002 while the number of such cases was 16,420 in 2003.

He also said that 388 people were murdered in 2002 while the number was 323 in 2003, sixty five less than that of the previous year.

The commissioner said incidents of abduction were 152 in 2003 against 175 in 2002, rape were 225 in 2003 against 219 in 2002, acid throwing were 12 in 2003 against 16 in 2002 and 60 incidents of child repression took place in 2003 while the number of child repression was 57 in 2002.

Mentioning the special drive in all 90 wards by 100 plain-cloth policemen and functioning of 20 mobile courts, Ashraful Huda said the drive has so far yielded good results.

He insisted on continuing the special drive and functioning of the mobile courts.