LALMONIRHAT, Nov 10: '373' is a unique number chosen by police here for using against social crimes including early marriage, stalking and repression.
The initiative has already saved seven schoolgirls from early marriage and stalking at different areas of the district in the last two months.
Farzana Akhter, a class eight student at Lalmonirhat Govt Girls' High School, said, "One of my classmates has been saved from an early marriage bid by the programme. We became aware about the programme when the district police arranged a meeting at our school recently. All students of the school have preserved police officers' numbers."
"I was saved from an early marriage bid by police when I sent SMS to 373, and the police took quick initiative," said a schoolgirl at the same school and resident of Purbo Thanapara area in the district town.
Sahera Akhter, a class nine student of Daikhawa village in Hatibandha upazila, said, "Three schoolgirls have been saved from stalking as police responded to the call through the number. Now we are tension-free on the way to and from our school."
Khurshiduzzaman, headmaster of Kaliganj Karim Uddin Public High School at Kaliganj upazila, said, "Students became aware of social crimes after a police meeting on SMS 373 programme at my school recently. Not only students but also teachers became aware, and we are committed to stand against all kinds of social crimes."
Police sources said, the SMS 373 programme was planned and prepared by the Superintendent of Police (SP) TM Mozahidul Islam from his personal interest. The programme is getting good response in the district, while police never disclose the identity of the caller to the number.
SP TM Mozahidul Islam said, "I'm trying my level best to provide better services from my department. I hope that anti-social activities will be curbed here through the SMS 373 programme."