Averting Street Crimes in Dhaka 1

Street Crimes in Dhaka City: How can it be Averted?

Simon Binta Sayeed

English 105, Section 5
Professor Dr. Shireen Huq
December 7, 2015

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ABSTRACT
Increase in criminal activity in urban setting of Dhaka city is the main problem. Rapid
urbanisation in an unplanned way has made Dhaka city more vulnerable these threats and
thus this research aims to find the sources of street crimes and what are influencing factors,
and what can be done to cope up with the growing problem that many of its citizens face in a
daily basis onto the roads.
Recommendation to prevent street crime is mentioned in the research, which is a
social responsibility and the way urban infrastructure is placed can alter the rate of street
crimes. Creating public awareness, preparing the formal surveillance (in terms of resources,
trainings and motivation), and strategically placing street lights, police booths and CCTV
cameras can decrease the rate of street crime.

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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
Street crimes can be defined as any criminal activity occurring in streets or in public
places. This can include from robbery, mugging, car theft, drug or alcohol abuse, eve
teasing, even murdering. What extent the street crime is occurring at a place depends upon
the context, the surveillance and the law and order system of a country. According to
NCVRW Resource Guide, there was an estimated 7,820,909 larcency-thefts in USA known
to the police nationwide or 3,033.9 oer 10000 population in 2012.This figure is just on thefts,
and a developed, first world country like USA also faces rape cases, mugging, drug dealing,
car theft and many other crimes that is reported on a daily basis. Developed and developing
countries all faces the problem of street crimes, and Dhaka city is no exception. Dhaka city
has seen mass urban development over the course of 40 years with 320,000 migrants
coming to the city from rural areas every year (Islam, November 2013, p.2). With the
population influx, the government, the public and the private sector have failed to cope up
causing strains in the urban infrastructure and were unable to provide these migrants any
shelter, food or any basic necessities of life and this resulted in illegal squatter settlements
and slums without no proper guidance. As Shafi (Thursday,April 7,2011) stated that, Lack
of stability in law and order situation has increased the overall crime and social unrest has
degraded the quality of life in Bangladesh. When the society and the government failed to
look after them, and when there is no job to buy food for themselves and their family, some
choose to rob or steal valuables from the wealthy, whilst other rob or do crimes to satisfy
their need for drug or alcohol abuse- another source for the reason of street crime.

Problems That Needs to be Addressed

While surveying an architect and a Professor at North South University, he said he
has no problem being mugged, as those mugging him is doing for the sake of food or out of

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basic necessities that the government failed to provide and he despise those working on the
government and continuously taking bribes which he finds being more of a criminal activity
than those happening at the streets of Dhaka city. That is ones own opinion and is
subjective, however what this research aims to deliver is that many are or were subjected to
crimes at streets-let it be only an eve tease or mugging to stabbing or even murders. When
there is a tension of this kind in society, then it is time to address them and act accordingly.
Problem of this society is the class difference and how the urban poor are neglected,
which in some is causing to fight back against the society and causing street crimes. Crime
and violence at streets are no longer just a social or law and order problem, but it also
comes as an obstacle for a city, and its people to develop economically, morally,
psychologically and physically. What is needed is active participation of people, and
becoming aware of what is happening in the surrounding and report back to police. While the
government should think of new policies and systems to provide housing, medicine, food for
the urban poor and restore balance in the society.

Hypothesis
Increase in criminal activity in urban setting is the main problem. Street crime
prevention is a social responsibility and the way urban infrastructure is placed can alter the
rate of street crimes. Islam (November, 2013) further mentions that where there is a high
rate of Crime, one cannot expect viable infrastructure, i.e. telecommunication, roads, water,
accommodation, electricity, business, etc, (p.11). Accurate data on levels on violence in
Dhaka are scare as many goes unreported, but from the available information and news
reports suggest that the level of crimes and violence on streets are rising.

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Most of the citizens blame the police force for lack of trained manpower, and their
sincerity. However, the police mentioned the reason of lawless ness in the city is because of
economic need driven factor where 75% of crimes are done due to poverty and
unemployment, 15% due to criminals taking this as a shortcut and 10% as a result of
unstable mental conditions due to drug and alcohol addictions, misguided youths, love
affairs. Other reason for crimes is because of rapid urbanisation leading to high cost in living,
unequal distribution of wealth. This combined effect are the causes of negative impacts to
the city (Shafi, Thursday,April 7, 2011).
Formal surveillance (police) is not necessary in every street; rather we need informal
surveillance from the communities, with their active participation and awareness. If any crime
occurred to them, or to a third person, they should report back to the authority. Increasing
formal surveillance would not help to cope with the rising street crimes, as what the police
need is proper training, updated ammunitions and vehicles, instead of increasing them in
numbers. Everyone walking or residing nearby streets should be aware of the surrounding.
Proper street lighting, pedestrian pathways, CCTV cameras and police booths can reduce
street crimes. In addition, the private space (building) to semi-public space (porch/ front
gate) to public space (roads) should be permeable and has a relation in order to make
people more aware. Nahrin (June 2008) recommends that Each building should be
constructed maintaining the proper Setback rules. This will create space for plantation
and eventually provide privacy of the dwellers. Some good design standard of buildings
such as careful grouping of dwelling units, positioning of window can also maintain certain
degree of privacy. Screening by plantation and iron fence rather than solid high wall can
increase visibility and security of the neighborhood (p.47).
Police enforcement, civil society, NGOs, private sector, and the government ,if work
cohesively , then the social imbalance can be restored and reduce street crimes in Dhaka.

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Methodology
The research on how to avert street crime is Dhaka city was done into method, one
primary and the other secondary method.
In primary method, a survey was conducted by the researcher through
questionnaires of 14 questions consisting of MCQ, open-ended questions, and yes/no
questions. The survey was conducted amongst 30 people with target group being students
from North South University, teachers/professors at the university, law enforcers and urban
planners.
Secondary method include study and analysis of books, publications, research
papers, articles on sources of street crimes, why law enforcers are unable to cope with the
rising crimes and how to prevent street crimes. The list of the sources can be found at the
end of the research paper in the references.

Limitations of the research

The eminent limitation of this study was the lack of time frame which was only of 3
months only, which is not a enough for any researcher to research, conduct surveys and
writing a research paper. The second limitation was the quantity of target group as it only
consisted of 30 people. More people to survey, the better the result with more variations and
adding great insight to research as well. If the research also focused on the slum conditions,
how the urban poor are living, interviewed government officials those are directly linked to
urban planning then the research would have been better.

Keywords
urban infrastructure, formal surveillance, urban poor

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