The newly formed unit of the Police Department has 72 outposts, each covering a distance of 60 km. Of these outposts, Twenty-four have been proposed to be upgraded as full-fledged thanas.

The Highway Police unit, manned by 2,042 personnel and equipped with 20 patrol jeeps, 59 cars and 150 motorcycles, will be responsible for managing traffic, ensuring safety and maintaining discipline at bus and truck terminals, filling stations, toll plazas, passenger sheds and parking lots on the regional and national highways.

The number of road accidents on the highways was 3,917 in 2004 while cases of road related crimes totaled 119,323.

State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, Inspector General of Police Abdul Qayyum and acting DIG of Highway Police Syed Shahjahan Raj received the prime minister at the Rajarbag Police Lines. A contingenet of the Highway Police presented Khaleda a guard of honour.

Ministers, MPs, PM's political secretary Harris Chowdhury and senior officials of the Bangladesh Police were present on the occasion.

Addressing the function, Khaleda said the formation of the Highway Police unit is part of the government's effort to improve law and order, curb crime and ensure safety of public life and property.

She said people's confidence in the rule of law, and overall law and discipline has increased. She, however, reminded that improvement of law and order situation is a continuous process.

Khaleda called upon the members of the police force to maintain highest vigilance all over and work with more dedication, honesty, courage and efficiency to ensure safety and basic rights of the law abiding innocent people.

Referring to the people's growing expectations from the police force, she expressed her firm belief that the department would be able to gain more confidence and respect of the citizens.

"You have to be strict in checking reckless driving, restricting overloading of passengers and goods, confining unfit vehicles and checking illegal driving licenses," Khaleda said.

Mentioning the setting up of trauma centers at five vital points on the national highway, she asked the Highway Police to ensure quick rescue and sending of accident victims to the hospitals.

Referring to various development programmes taken by her government for the welfare of the police force, She assured that the government was actively considering to increase the salaries of policemen to a satisfactory level.

Reminding that the police are the servants and friends of the people, she asked the members of the force to do good work and said, "Besides financial assistance, you will also be rewarded with invaluable love of the people."

State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, Home Secretary Safar Raj Hossain and IGP Abdul Qayyum also spoke at the function.

Khaleda switched on the lights indicating the 72 outposts of the Highway Police on Bangladesh map. She also offered munajat.

Later, the prime minister inspected the vehicles of the Highway Police patrol.