Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sazzat Ali on Saturday said that public involvement is the key factor behind the police’s success in maintaining law and order.

He made the remarks while attending a special meeting of the Law and Order Coordination Committee (LOCC) at Gulshan Police Station.

The DMP chief said the entire zone including Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan areas, has been brought under comprehensive CCTV surveillance to maintain law and order.

This initiative was implemented with the support and funding of local residents. As a result, criminal activities have been significantly reduced, and identifying and apprehending offenders has become faster and more efficient.

Commissioner Sazzat Ali said that participation of locals plays a vital role in crime prevention and community safety.

LOCC President Barrister Omar Sadat said the committee was established through the joint initiative of the societies of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan to foster trust between the police and the public. It was begun with just 25 CCTV cameras and has now expanded to approximately 1,500 cameras across the area, he noted.

LOCC Secretary General Shamsul Arefin Chowdhury presented the technical aspects of the initiative, explaining that the project, funded entirely by the public, operates under the direct supervision of DMP.

LOCC Vice President Shawkat Hossain Dilon mentioned that due to the extensive camera network, street crime has become virtually non-existent in the area.

Over its 13-year journey, the LOCC has demonstrated how modern technology, combined with citizen-police cooperation, can create a more effective security system.

Attendees at the event said that the success of the Gulshan-Baridhara model could serve as an example for other areas of the capital.

As part of the visit, the DMP Commissioner also inspected the CCTV operations housed within the Gulshan Police Station building.