Given the sharply rising number of policewomen in the country, the government should provide sufficient number of quarters to them and day care centres to look after their children, said speakers yesterday.

"We have limitations when it comes to providing residential and other facilities for women," said Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker. However, he could not say the exact number of quarters allocated for policewomen.

The number of policewomen is now close to 6,000 while it was just 14 in 1974, he said, adding that around 4,000 female police were recruited in the last four and half years alone.

Hassan Mahmood Khandker was addressing the first national conference of Bangladesh Police Women's Network (BPWN) at police headquarters in the capital. The network was formed in 2008 to address problems faced by policewomen in their jobs.

"Instead of limiting themselves to activities at victim supporting units and dealing with cases of women repression, women are now taking part in almost all major activities of law enforcers," he said.

Females now constitute nearly 5 percent of the total 1.51 lakh police in the country, said Mokhlesur Rahman, additional inspector general of police.

Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, among others, also spoke.