Writ seeks halt to cop drive for Dhaka citizens’ info

A Supreme Court lawyer today moved a writ petition with the High Court seeking a halt to Dhaka police’s drive to collect identification information about the city dwellers.

Lawyer Jotirmoy Barua also prayed the High Court’s directives to preserve the information already collected and not use them until a specific law is formulated in this regard.

The lawyer also requested the court to issue a rule upon the authorities to explain as to why collection information about Dhaka metropolitan dwellers should not be declared illegal.

Since November last, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) began the drive to collect information. Specific forms were distributed to landlords asking them to make their tenants fill the form.

It was not until recently that DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said it was a measure to make a database of Dhaka’s dwellers and will be used to curb crime.

The move has drawn flak especially considering that a national database already exists as everyone has a national identity card (NID). A legal notice has been already issued in this regard.

Lawyer Jotirmoy Barua said in the petition that there is no legal basis of collecting such information about tenants through their landlords and it is is a violation of rights to privacy.

“The information DMP sought for is very much personal and sensitive in nature and could be harmful if it is misused by any unscrupulous persons,” he said in the petition.

Law secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police and DMP commissioner have been made respondents to the required rule. Jyotirmoy told The Daily Star that the HC might hold hearing on the petition next week.