The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

E-policing (online policing) to prevent murder, mugging, traffic jam, arson, cyber crime, anti-social activities has not been successfully implemented so far.

Police source said as a first step of E-policing Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) tried to set up close-circuit cameras in the city streets.

Under the project, around 59 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras were supposed to be placed at 11 entrance and exit points to the city and other important spots like Sonargaon Crossing, Farmgate, Shapla Chattar, Bangladesh Bank, Zero Point, Baitul Mukarram, Paltan Maidan, Maghbazar and Mohakhali.

The DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed however said in coming December DMP would install CCTV in the vantage points in the city. But till now only 50 per cent of the work has been completed, the source added.

According to the work order issued in November 2006, the 'Command Control and Communication System' project was scheduled to be finished by June 2007. The UNDP was financing the project under the Police reforms programme.

Even after more than a year of the deadline, police could not give details of the extent of the work undertaken or say exactly when the project would be completed.

"We are currently facing some technical difficulties," said a senior official at DMP requesting anonymity. "This is the kind of project that requires a lot of technological and specialised planning and considerations. We have to make sure that there are no loose ends."

"If everything goes well, we are hopeful that it will be completed by somewhere around November," he said.

According to the source, necessary equipments have been brought to the police command control centre at the Police Headquarters on Abdul Ghani Road.

However, installation of the CCTV cameras along with the modernisation of the control room saw little progress because of 'hesitation' over setting up of a tower for the network to function, a DMP source said.

CCTV involves a kind of telecast that can only be seen on specified receivers connected to the television camera by circuits having microwave relays and coaxial cables.

E-Policing recalled an informer giving him precise information about a gang of drug pushers during one of the video conferencing sessions. Police source said all cases filed online are reviewed and further investigation can be carried out by police with the use of hi-tech.

The E-Policing can help monitor price hike, extortion, traffic volume, drug peddling and any other illegal activities in any area.

Officers on monitoring duties will also keep a close eye on street crimes. In case of street snatchings and muggings, escape route of the culprit(s) can be easily traced through these cameras, sources added.

The police department on the other hand can decentralise to get crime information of a local area by getting these from the local people instantly andrapidly. The Police informer can immediately pass any information through the internet.

Despite various barriers to installing a sound E-Policing service in Bangladesh, its eventual establishment would have far reaching effects on checking crimes, safeguarding VIPs, maintaining discipline and controlling vehicular movement by upgrading the overall standard of police service, a DMP official told the New Nation.