Beyond the line of duty

To reduce exposure to Covid-19 infection, police have introduced an app and mobile shop to reach daily commodities to the doorsteps of Dhaka residents.

Alongside the initiative, the law enforcement agency has also opened a page in social media to support the needy and middle class families, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The Tejgaon division of DMP has launched the app -- wevbd.com -- last week to deliver essential products to the doorsteps of people so that they do not need to come out of home.

"We have started a test-run, through which people living in Tejgaon division will be able to place orders for essentials. Police with the assistance of young volunteers will deliver the products free of charge," Biplob Bijoy Talukder, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon division, told The Daily Star recently.

He said many areas have been locked down now due to coronavirus, that's why they launched the app to help people in need.

A huge number of people started calling the official phone numbers of six police stations -- Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, Adabaor, Sher-e Banglanagar, Hatirjheel and Tejgaon Industrial -- under the division for support and police provided them with daily essentials, said the official.

With an aim to make the process easier, police sought support from area-based young volunteers and then designed the app, said the deputy commissioner.

HOW THE APP WORKS

Officials said people will be able to order rice, lentil, sugar, salt, flour, potato, onion, oil, garlic, ginger, different types of spices, baby food and medicine through the app.

To place an order, one has to visit -- wevbd.com -- then select respective police station and complete registration by providing details such as delivery address.

Once the grocery items are selected and filanised, the order will be delivered to a person's doorsteps, they said.

The application has three sections -- users, admin and volunteers, said Hafiz Al Faruk, additional deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Division.

"We have selected some grocery and medicine shops so volunteers can collect products from there at actual price. Once an order is placed, a nearby volunteer will collect the order and deliver those to the address with a bill and collect the money," he said.

Faruk said they have planned to continue the support even after the situation becomes normal. "We will then provide the service to the elderly and people with disabilities," he said.

OTHER INITIATIVES

The Gulshan division of DMP has already launched a new service in apartment buildings with the help of a volunteer group "Hello Shop". Customers can collect essential items (with price tags) from a shelf set up downstairs and leave the money in a cash box next to it, Sudip Chakraborty, deputy commissioner of the division, told The Daily Star.

"We are planning to set up such shops at all large apartments in the division but it will take some time as we need to take care of the logistics first," he said.

The Gulshan division also has home delivery options and a volunteer group -- "Swapno Chaka" -- is helping them in this regard, added DC Sudip.

Meanwhile, the Mirpur division of DMP has launched a platform called "Khoj Niyechen" to stand beside the needy by providing them with food support.

They receive daily orders between 11am to 5pm through three hotlines -– 01537551110, 01883422631, 01883422632.

"People from different income groups are calling us, seeking support for food and other essentials," said Mahmuda Afroz Lucky, additional deputy commissioner (admin) of Mirpur division. They have so far provided food and daily essentials support to around 1,600 families, she said.

Lucky said that they are now planning to introduce a home delivery service so that Mirpur residents do not need to step out of home for groceries.