The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has sought land from the Ministry of Land to build designated dumping yards in four areas of the capital, as most police stations have effectively turned into makeshift storage spaces for seized vehicles.

Officials confirmed to the Daily Sun that a formal request was sent to the ministry in January this year, seeking five acres of land each in Uttara, Mirpur, Lalbagh and Wari.

Although the specific locations were not identified, the DMP requested khas land to avoid delays associated with formal land acquisition, they added.

The move comes amid growing concerns over the lack of space for storing vehicles seized for a range of reasons, including use as evidence in accident investigations, involvement in transporting illegal goods, or being unfit or unauthorised for road use.

"Beside the letters, we have requested two city corporations in Dhaka many times for the dumping yards. We presented our needs in different forums of the government but we are yet to get any solutions," Additional Deputy Commissioner (Traffic and Admin) Mahedi Hasan told the Daily Sun.

He further stated, “We have sought five acres of land in each of the areas but did not pinpoint exact locations. The ministry is requested to provide khas land to avoid the time-consuming land acquisition process. We are yet to receive any response. If the land is allocated, we will develop it as a dumping station and construct security barracks there.”

DMP sources noted that in the absence of dedicated yards, seized vehicles are being stored in various improvised locations across the city. These include the compounds of nearly every police station and open spaces such as under the Postogola Bridge, beneath the Kanchpur Bridge in Narayanganj, the backyard of Shahbagh police station, a portion of the road from Begum Rokeya Sarani to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics office in Agargaon, beside Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, in front of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission office, and the Darus Salam area.

The situation has been exacerbated by a recent drive conducted by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) against unfit and overage vehicles. However, the drive has reportedly been hampered due to the same issue – a lack of designated dumping yards.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, BRTA Director (Enforcement) Md Hemayet Uddin admitted, “We do not have the required number of dumping stations for keeping unfit vehicles. Currently, we are keeping them in open spaces at BRTA offices or local police stations. The decline in vehicle dumping is due to a lack of designated space.”

DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar echoed the urgency of the matter.

“Increasing dumping stations for keeping vehicles has become a crying need for us. We have forwarded many proposals to various government agencies but are yet to receive any response. Recently, we have submitted a proposal to the land ministry and hope we will get a solution.”