Sources said that the proposed 12 police stations have already received finance ministry approval and is now awaiting the approval from the cabinet, said sources at police head quarters.

With the new addition, the number of total police stations in the city will rise to 40. Officials of the police department said they would set up 11 more stations later on that will make a total of 51.

The names and jurisdiction of the new stations have been finalised. They will be named as Jatrabari, Tejgaon Shilpanchal, Shahbagh, Uttarkhan, Dakhinkhan, Gendaria, Bangshal, Kalabagan, Chalkbazar, Darussalam, Rampura and Kadamtali Police Stations.

"Once in operation, the burden on the existing PSs will become lighter, and the police force will be able to serve the people more efficiently. We received allotment for six stations on government property, and the rest will be housed in rented buildings," said S M Mizanur Rahman, commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), adding that the department was on the lookout for such buildings.

However, a DMP source said it might not be possible to start operations at the new PSs simultaneously, because the buildings on rent have to be located. This would be a difficult task, as landlords do not want to rent out building to the police department.

"Landlords have their own reasons for this reluctance, first and foremost because the DMP will pay rent only as stipulated by the government," he said. "The house will be used as a public place and will not be well-maintained and also landlords will not be able to ask the tenants to vacate whenever the building is required," he added.

He said that because of these reasons it takes time to rent a house to set up any police stations.

The DMP, in June last year, were able to establish only six new PS in the city although they had planned for eight.

The new PSs would start functioning with a total manpower of 14 sub-inspectors (SI), 11 assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) and 50 constables under an officer-in-charge (OC) in each PS.

"We are ready to allot the required force to the new PSs. As soon as we receive the order, we will designate the force to the new stations," said Hasanul Haider, assistant inspector general (AIG) of requirement and manpower (R&M), Bangladesh Police.

The government in 2004 took the initiative to increase the number of PSs in the city with an aim to improve the service of the law enforcers by reducing pressure on the existing ones.

In the Dhaka metropolis there is one policeman for every 540 persons although the ratio in the entire country is 1:1300. High officials of Bangladesh Police said that they would improve the ratio more in metropolitan areas like Dhaka.

"A process to designate 1,200 more police personnel in the city is under progress, and will be made phase-by-phase," Haider said.