The toll-free national emergency services number ‘999’ has been drawing growing response since its inception on December 12 as around 20,833 people across the country on average sought toll free services from it every day.

‘After the formal launching of this service till 12 midnight on December 17, it received some 1.25 lakh phone calls over the last six days,’ Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, in charge of the public relations and media wing at the Police Headquarters, said Soheli Ferdous, reports the BSS.

She informed the national news agency that out of those 1.25 lakh phone calls reaching this service, there was no response from some 70,000 calls on the other end of the phones. Besides, some 18,100 service seekers sought answers of their various questions while there were some 13,002 missed calls.

AIG Soheli Ferdous said some 400 people sought various kinds of services like resisting child marriages as well as on issues like gambling, cyber crime, eve teasing, snatching, killings, abduction, rape, fire incidents. Besides, some police personnel also sought services from ‘999’ hot number.

She informed that anyone from any place within the country can seek help for three emergency services-ambulance, police and the Fire Service and Civil Defence - using both mobile and land phone.

The ambulance service, however, will not be free.

However, Soheli Ferdous said that some prank calls are also coming to this service alongside genuine calls. ‘But, those who give irritating calls, message will be conveyed to them that their information is being preserved and legal action will be taken against those who will give such irritating call on regular basis,’ he said.

Earlier on December 12, prime minister’s ICT affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy inaugurated the expanded national emergency services at a function in the capital’s National Control and Command Centre well-known as police control room through using toll-free hotline number ‘999’ across the country.

The number - 999- is an official emergency telephone number used in a number of countries around the world allowing the caller to contact emergency services for urgent assistance.

A dedicated call centre has already been set up at the police control room to provide the services.

After ringing the ‘999’, the caller has to keep their phone on for further inquiries by police.