The sign above his head read "Duly Officer rhe man in question was clad in blue surrounded by the pistachio green walls of a po lice station somewhere In Dhaka Rubber stamp stains covered the cheap plastic sheet on the table in front of him. Three phones, moss green, vellow and brown sat next to each other The duty officer promptly picked one of them up as it rang He muttered a few urgent ’ sounding orders. and then stared into space.

One might have mistaken him for the Officer in Charge were It not for the absence of an authoritative pot belly. He was a man most Dhakanes would have to meet at some point of lheir existence.

The Duty Officer looked up as a well dressed gentleman strode up to his desk.

"I am a government officer.'' the gentleman announced as he walked towards the man in blue. My brief case has been stolen."

Indeed’, the Duty Officer remarked without feigning interest. "How Interesting”. Surely, he thought, they both had better things to do. Did this gentleman actually think the police could retrieve his stolen items?

But having heard the words government coupled with the word 'officer', the policeman decided not to take a risk.

Hmm., he said hoping to sound helpful this time.

■Well, my briefcase was left in the passenger seat of my car. the bureaucrat began without further encouragement. “I had sent my driver to run an errand for me. Well, the foolish chap left the case In full view on the front seat when he came back 15 minutes later, the case was gone...

He was Interrupted by the moss green phone The Duty Officer soon became engrossed in another conversation and completely forgot the case of the stolen, briefcase.

Others present in the room began their own interrogation. "Sir. where exactly did this happen?" and "Did anyone see the thief?"'. "What a shame" . "How careless." and so on. These strangers certainly showed more concern than the Duty Officer himself.

Strange screams pierced through the pistachio walls. The bureaucrat looked alatmed for a second until someone explained that a pagol (mad) was being held at the thana.

The civil servant glanced at the wall behind^ him. A large sheet behind a glass frame was covered with black and white passport size mugshots. accompanied by different headings.

Pickpockets, burglars..."

Would you like to record my statement?’'

Ilie burglary victim ventured as the Duty Officer replaced the hand set "I would like to get this done with."

rhe Duty Officer nodded indifferently. Why don r you give us a written application. Sir?" he countered.

The bureaucrat began jotting his experience down In earnest, carefully selecting his words and sprinkling choice phrases here and there. He handed the finished masterpiece for the policeman to read.

The Duty Officer quickly pored over the story. "I don't believe it." he stated simply while staring pointedly at the civil servant's driver. "You see, nothing of this sort has happened in that area before." the Duty Officer explained rather condescendingly. "There have been no such crimes reported there, and I don't think someone would risk breaking into a car near all those shops." the doubling Thomas concluded, his gaze still fixed on the driver.

"Do you think anyone would report the crime If it happened? If 1 came here with the same complaint, would you even listen to me?" the driver burst out with indignation, sensing, that he was about to be made the scapegoat.

Do you think ordinary people, would even bother coming to you? You are only pretending to show interest because "Sir" is here."'

"I told you the incident has happened, so it has happened." the government officer told the Duty Officer in a less amiable mood. Send someone to the place- of the occurrence. You just tell me what you can do."

Having stated his case, there was nothing more the bureaucrat could do. The entire exercise seemed strangely futile. The Duty Officer didn’t ask to check the car's broken lock, or- ask for the colour of-the briefcase, the contents, and the value of the items lost. How could the police possibly .attempt a serious search without these details?

The bureaucrat despite his respectable social standing could not stir the men in blue to action. What chance did anyone else have? The crime victim walked dejectedly back to his car. Somewhere in Dhaka another petty thief was sporting his Porsche sunglasses and trying to flog off a "digital diary". His income tax papers were probably recycled as egg packaging and God only knew where his daughter’s sari-clad Pahela Balshak photos were...

"We are getting on the case immediately,"' the Duty Officer called out, "Please phone us tomorrow".

Sorfiehow the words rang hollow.