Under the programme, Rajshahi police have taken upa plan to replicate Bogra model of community policing in all northern districts.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police of Rajshahi Range AKM Shahidul Haque announced this at a press conference held at Bogra Police Line auditorium recently.

Community policing programme was launched in Sadar upazila three years ago by Light House, a Bogra based NGO. The programme has succeeded, to a great extent, in decreasing crimes in the project area, the DIG said.

Nine wards of Bogra Sadar upazila were covered under the programme with assistance of police. Now the programme has been developed as a model, he said adding police will replicate the model in all the northern districts including other parts of Bogra to bring down crime.

The DIG has expressed his optimism saying crime situation is likely to improve in the northern districts on completion of the programme.

Under the programme, people and police will jointly discuss crime and community safety issues and implement it, he said.

International downer agency, Asia Foundation will fund the programme and provide technical support to it, he said.

Light House worked for three years in Sadar upazila and succeeded in implementing the programme. As a result of the programme intervention, some visible changes relating to law and order have been visible.

In respect of changes made before and after the programme intervention, the respondents have given their positive opinions at a survey conducted in several areas of Bogra town and other targeted areas in the district.

In the survey, 97 out of 100 respondents said that crimes have reduced to a great extent after the programme intervention. About 71 respondents said the law and order situation improved significantly after the programme intervention. About 45 respondents said that awareness of people increased to a great extent compared to previous situation. Two respondents said relationship between police and the community has developed. They are of the opinion that justice seeking behavior of people has been changed after the programme intervention.

Many people said that Community Policing Forum (CPF) is playing an effective role in resolving local disputes and thereby facilitating positive change in improving security, justice and good governance.

About 75 respondents are of the opinion that CPF is very much required for dispute settlement.

Bogra Sadar Police Station Officer-In-Charge said criminal activities including snatching have been reduced in some part of the town due to community policing.

In order to achieve the objectives of the programme, different strategies were undertaken by police.

Kazipur police in Sirajganj already launched the Bogra model of community policing programme in the upazila.