AL ASAD MD. MAHFUZUL ISLAM
Law and Order Coordination Committee (LOCC) is one of the brilliant brainchild of Dr. Benazir Ahmed, BPM (Bar) in combating crimes in Gulshan, Banani, Niketon, Baridhara and surrounding jurisdiction. LOCC is an unique platform of multi-level stakeholders, for example, politicians,local elites, business personalities and police executives in partnering policing to attain the objective of sustainable security in the said sojourn. More than 1000 high-powered 3-6 megapixel cameras already been installed in Gulshan,Baridhara, Niketan and Banani area during the incumbancy of Dr. Benazir Ahmed, BPM (Bar) as the then Police commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan around in 2015. This iconoclastic initiative has already been taken place as one of the innovative policing strategies in the discourse of international peace and security in terms of engaging communities and citizens in discharging policing services at the doorstep of people.

The present Inspector General of Police, Bangladesh Dr Benazir Ahmed, BPM (Bar) is a maestro of community and beat policing strategy here in Bangladesh and LOCC is such a nicest policing product, Bangladesh has uniquely offered to the globe. Nowadays, traditional crimes have disappeared in Gulshan area due to this project initiated by Dr. Ahmed. Once upon a time, it was a common phenomenon that snatching, pick pocketing, harassment, car theft, bullying occurredeveryday in that area, particularly with foreign citizens. Street prostitution in the said area was also in media. It created huge confusion and hindered our path of progress, henceforth there was a blurring image in the minds of creative citizens and foreign dignitaries. LOCC, under the leadership of Dr. Ahmed has diametrically changed thisscenarios and brought peace and happiness in the hearts of the people of that area.

The project has become stronger with the identification of criminals of Cesar Tabella. Police apprehended the criminals with relentless efforts by the analytics as well as algorithm of CCTV cameras. This significant policing success ignited the neuron of Dr. Ahmed and consequently, he called up a hurried meeting to form partnership in policing for curbing such crimes to fulfill the aspirations of Vision 2021. The kind and generous residents, including Lawmaker AKM Rahmatullah of that area responded quickly with complied with his benign urge. This is how Gulshan Model of Curbing Crimes born during his tenure as Police Commissioner in DMP. At present Gulshan has become one of the safest areas in Dhaka where foreigners as well as any citizens can move freely without any fear of snatching or hijacking. There is hardly any complaints of snatching handbags of citizens.

In the discourse of community engagement in Policing patterns, there have been number of theories and practices across the globe. The criminologists research on many practices. However, IGP Dr. Benazir Ahmed’s Gulshan Model under the umbrella of LOCC of Community Engagement conjures up researches, analysis and study for new generation Police officers and criminologists. To me, this digital innovation should be scaled up even in the global schools of international peace and security studies.

To ensure sustainable security, Dr. Benazir Ahmed’s iconoclastic, innovative and tech savvy model of curbing crimes can be replicated in different areas of Dhaka City and across the country. It benefits the nation in multifaceted ways and therefore the security of State and their citizens have been beefed up. On the other hand, the contribution of citizens allows them to feel ownership of that community. Police will feel strengthed with the feelings of ownership of community residents. The State money can be saved and the richer have bigger pie to pay. Meanwhile, it will enhance every stakeholders in security perspectives and our shared future will be achieved.

Dr. Benazir Ahmed’s brainchild of Gulshan Model of LOCC will accelerate our aspirations as well as essence that we already setforth in SDGs, Perspective Plan, Vision 2041, 8th Five Year Plan and Delta Plan 2100 in regards to ensuring sustainable development and peace through achieving sustainable security. In the sojourn of Bangladesh magical growth and unprecedented development trajectory, IGP’s epoch-making Gulshan model urges to our sanguine policy makers and brilliant bureaucrats for the development of policy formulation for implementing this partnership initiative across the nation under annual development cluster.

The Writer has been serving as Additional Superintendent of Police in UN Affairs Training wing in Bangladesh Police Headquarters.