After realising her five-year-old child was raped by her neighbour in Bagerhat’s Brahmankathi area, a mother called the National Emergency Helpline-999 at March 3 noon.

The speed at which the National Emergency Helpline (999) responds to distress calls is much slower than that of developed countries due to an outdated operating system and manpower shortage.

Sitting at his desk with headphones on, helpline (999) operator Anik Sen heard the cry of a baby right after he pressed the receive button to attend a distress call.