In Gotham city without Batman! Dhaka's fight against crime heats up

Dhaka faces a crime surge—can a new wave of vigilantes and tech-driven policing turn the tide?

The recent spate of lawlessness in Dhaka is certainly alarming and has triggered a sense of consternation among people, although I must say that in my area, Elephant Road, Nilkhet and New Market, there has not been any major incidents of burglary, robbery or hijacking.

Yet, the apprehension among people of several areas is palpable and justified because, recently, a video posted on Facebook showed a very disturbing scene of bike riding thugs snatching a bag and firing at the victim.

Several videos emerged in the past few week, compounding the sense of fear.

Onlookers from tall buildings recording the incident on the phone could do little because naturally, facing off with crooks carrying firearms would have been foolhardy.

This is not to say Dhaka has turned into a crime zone but in certain areas, criminal activity is being noticed which can be tackled with a few strategic moves, especially with Ramadan knocking at the door.

To refer to the heading, even if Batman is not present, Gotham has to survive and fight crime.

WARD BASED VIGILANTE GROUPS

Masks and capes are not necessary although a few robust batons or truncheons can work to contain street crime.

However, the ward commissioner’s office has a role to launch area based youth vigilante groups which should operate after dark.

In the period following Aug 5, many members of the law-enforcing agency did not join, leaving the police short staffed.

While this is being addressed, the ward commissioner, with support from eminent residents of an area, can raise funds to support a temporary security force comprising enthusiastic people who are permanent residents of a particular area.

Raising a fund from every household, based on financial capacity, this force, with each group comprising three to four members, can be supplied with batons, torches and whistles.

Where possible, the groups may also include one or two armed Ansar members, carrying walkie-talkies to maintain contact with the local police station.

CC CAMERAS TO BE MADE MANDATORY

The advantage of closed-circuit or CC cameras is that it allows the police to follow movements of criminals.

If one camera records the perpetrators at the crime spot then even if the goons are masked and leave the scene swiftly, the task of tracing them using cameras of other areas becomes easier.

The usage of drones to keep surveillance has not caught on in Dhaka as yet although during the July-August uprisings, drone cameras were hovering all over the Dhaka University campus and adjacent areas.

The police of areas which have seen a sudden surge of criminal acts can begin drone surveillance units by providing part time drone operating duty to young people during Ramadan as many traders, shop attendants and shoppers, will come back home late.

As Ramadan begins with the spirit of restraint marking the first fifteen days, in the last two weeks, the whole city will slip into a spending spree – a time, which will also be a temptation for criminals.

MODERNISING POLICE OPERATIONS

In wealthy countries, top cities have police choppers doing rounds, although in Bangladesh, this still may prove too expensive.

However, a very practical solution to allow police into narrow lanes and by lanes would be through the usage of motorised rickshaws.

It may not be too impractical for specific police stations to buy motorised rickshaws.

In similar manner, boats fitted with engines can provide security on the river since many traders will be coming to Dhaka during Ramadan.

GUN PERMITS FOR PEOPLE WITH GENUINE NEEDS

We now wade into a very complex territory.

In Bangladesh, as far as I know, small arms permits are given as a tool strictly for self defence and the granting of the license comes with several very rules, one of which is, the weapon can never be carried openly and has to be declared at major public gathering spots, like airports, hotels etc.

To get a small arms permit, the application procedure is no short of Kafkaesque.

For a common person who feels his or her life may be under threat, either due to their profession or social status, it’s often next to impossible to get the permit.

Strangely, people with political connections have always found a way to get hold of permits, making the gun permit approval highly politicised and discriminatory.

For instance, a journalist, doctor, or even an actor—who is often compelled to work and travel late at night—will face an uphill task in getting a permit.

In contrast, during the last regime, countless politically linked people manipulated connections to get licenses.

Permits were granted to people with dubious and questionable backgrounds simply because they had political blessings.

A very fitting analogy goes like this: if someone from a low-income background goes to a budget hotel with a sex worker, he may be arrested and rebuked for being involved in “anti-social” behaviour.

However, if one drives into a plush hotel in an SUV with an escort, the guards cordially open the door and society accepts it, often with admiration, as a casual distraction of the wealthy.

For the ordinary man who may feel insecure travelling at night, the process is not only complex but almost impossible.

Also, there is the puzzling rule saying that to apply for a permit, the applicant has to show a high income tax payment for three years in a row.

Guns are never a solution but the process should be reformed in a way to ensure genuine people can hope to get a permit.

Reportedly, for a small arms permit, one step involves a direct quizzing by the district administrator.

This is fine but this stage needs to include one member of the civil society or media and a mid-senior ranking officer from the defence forces.

In the wake of recent criminal activities, the defence forces are seen on the roads, which is laudable.

Senior members of the national cadet corps and scouts can also be employed to maintain a blanket security coverage of Dhaka during Ramadan.

To end on a lighter note, if the government decides to introduce a new crime-fighting unit, equipped with state of the art machinery, it may be fitting to call it Bat-men! What say you?

[Towheed Feroze is a former journalist]