80 CCTV cameras installed at 15 points in Dhaka-13, hundreds planned within a year

To strengthen security in Mohammadpur and the Dhaka-13 parliamentary constituency, 80 high-resolution CCTV cameras with zoom facilities have been installed at 15 strategically important locations. There is a plan to raise the number of cameras to several hundred within the next year.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education and Dhaka-13 MP Bobby Hajjaj gave the information on Saturday at a press briefing held at a community centre in Mohammadpur in the capital, on the area's law and order situation, crime control, CCTV surveillance and modern traffic management.

The state minister said important intersections and gathering places, including Bosila Chowrasta, Mohammadpur bus stand and Asad Gate, are covered by this network.

Bobby Hajjaj said that, based on information from the concerned police stations, specialised hidden cameras have been installed at crime-prone spots and at the entrances of Geneva Camp. Analysing this footage helped the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) identify and arrest those involved in the cocktail-throwing incident at the July Memorial Museum.

He said that to build an integrated security system, the Dhaka-13 area is being divided into 70 mahallas, with committees being formed comprising local dignitaries, mosque-temple and market committees and heads of educational institutions.

For security reasons, only the police stations, the traffic division and designated representatives will be able to use the CCTV footage. In addition, an initiative has been taken to add artificial intelligence (AI) technology in future to quickly detect suspicious activity.

The state minister also said that, thanks to CCTV surveillance, adequate street lighting and police activity, snatching has come down to near zero in several places. Talks have been held with the DMP commissioner about increasing additional patrol vehicles and manpower to ensure quick service across the large area of Mohammadpur police station.

On modern traffic management, he said modern traffic signals are operating at Shia Masjid, Asad Gate and Dhanmondi 27. Within the next two months they will be installed at the west gate of DRMC School, Nurjahan Road and the entrance of Shampa Market. Congestion control and video prosecution are under way through CCTV at important points.

Bobby Hajjaj emphasised employment and rehabilitation to control juvenile gangs and drugs. He said talks are under way with the World Bank, ADB, BGMEA and FBCCI on the development of various areas including Bosila and the Bihari camp.

Representatives of the DMP's Traffic-Tejgaon division, Mohammadpur, Adabor and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations and the Special Response Battalion (SRB) were present at the press briefing.