Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is giving top priority to curbing extortion and regulating battery-powered rickshaws in the capital, its Additional Commissioner Masud Karim said on Sunday.

He said a policy is being formulated to strictly regulate battery-powered rickshaws, while efforts are underway to find a permanent solution to the problem. “The higher levels of the government are highly sincere about addressing the issue,” he said.

Masud said efforts are also underway to ease traffic congestion in Dhaka.

He made the remarks while speaking at a view-exchange meeting on “Improvement of Local Business and Commerce, Law-and-Order, Traffic Congestion and Trade Licence Services” at the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) office in Motijheel.

The DMP official said traffic cameras will be made operational to help reduce congestion.

“We want to make the cameras operational. Efforts are underway to make Dhaka safer,” he said, adding that changes are taking place gradually and small changes will eventually lead to major improvements.

On extortion, Masud said the issue has been given the highest priority and police personnel have been instructed to take strict action against extortionists.

The DCCI and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) jointly organised the meeting.

DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam attended the event as the chief guest, while DCCI President Taskin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech.

The event also marked the inauguration of Licence Renewal Service Week and the distribution of renewed trade licences.