The Open House Day was first introduced at Uttara Police Station in June 2007.

On the Open House Day, each of the eight Crime Divisions of DMP consisting four to five police stations will organise a public discussion on a Saturday of each month encouraging locals to participate and assist law enforcers in maintaining law and order.

The initiative under police reform project (PRP) is aimed at gaining mutual understanding, trust and cooperation through transforming the old colonial policing practices into a people-friendly one.

On a particular Saturday, the Open House Day of a Crime Division would be observed with a deputy commissioners (DC) or additional deputy commissioner presiding over the discussion. A 30-member committee comprising various local representatives and high officials of police would also be formed in each Crime Division to assist the law enforcers.

"Problems in an area under each police station in the capital will be solved by implementing the programme [Open House Day]. The police station concerned with the help of the locals will take care of the problems," said DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed explaining the mission and the objective of the Open House Day to journalists at his office.

Ramna, Sutrapur and Paltan police stations yesterday observed their very first Open House Day. In Ramna Police Station, police officials were seen listening to locals and taking notes as the locals made complaints and suggestions.

The United Nations Development Programme, Department of International Development and the European Commission are jointly funding the first phase of the three-year-long PRP.