Cops to wear cameras from now on

DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed displaying a camera to be placed on the body of a policemen in Dhaka's Shahbagh area on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Photo: Rashed Shumon

In the backdrop of criticism for wasting huge money on close circuit cameras throughout Dhaka city, now, starting from the New Year, policemen of the metropolitan will be ‘wearing’ cameras in a bid to ensure public security in the capital.

The small camera can be worn on the body or on the head. It will be used to take photos and record videos and audio of pedestrians, vehicles and roads.

The camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels, and is capable of recording 8 hours of audio and video, a press release of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said today.

DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed launched this technological enhancement at Shahbag this afternoon which began under a trial mode with 15 cameras.

“We’re launching the program with 15 cameras. 400 more cameras will be introduced soon. The cameras will be connected to the command-center,” Benazir said.

“The policemen will not be able to erase any data recorded by the cam.”

The digital cameras will be operated and monitored from the central command centre, said Imam Hossain, deputy commissioner of police. “Each camera costs Tk 20,000.”

A previous such attempt of the law enforcement agency, installing cameras throughout Dhaka city, has now turned out to be a huge waste of money and resources.

A total of 155 close circuit cameras are now gathering dust at several important points in the city. It has been reported that a total of Tk 61 crore has been laid to waste in that project.