Bangladesh: National emergency helpline launched December 12

Event

On Tuesday, December 12, Bangladesh launched the national 999 emergency helpline, which will connect callers with police, firefighting, and ambulance services. The number can be called 24 hours a day, and can be dialed from any telephone in the country free of charge.

Context

Prior to Tuesday's launch, dialing 999 only connected individuals to local police. Authorities had been running tests for a unified national emergency helpline since October 2016.

Advice

Individuals in Bangladesh are advised to take note of the change and to call 999 only in case of emergency.