One year on, database yet to be completed

It has been more than a year, but the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) is yet to complete the citizens' information database.

According to CMP sources, manpower crisis and a lack of logistical support are the major reasons behind the delay.

The CMP took the initiative in July 2016 in an apparent bid to curb militancy.

 So far, around 13 lakh forms have been distributed against 78,58,700 city dwellers under 16 police stations in the port city. And, around four lakh filled-up forms have been collected.

Currently, police personnel of the police stations have been entering the information into the online database, Citizen Information Management System (CIMS), launched by the Police Headquarters (PHQ) in July this year.

However, the CMP could not input one-third of the collected data into the CIMS due to inadequate manpower and logistics, said police officials.

Saleh Mohammed Tanvir, CMP's additional commissioner (crime and operation), said, “Due to a slow internet connection, we faced some problems initially,”

He said the police stations have been provided with 30 computers, scanners and dedicated internet connections to speed up the process.

“Prior to the launch of CIMS, we entered data of around 40,000 citizens in another database developed by us. Now we're entering the previous information into the CIMS,” he added.

He said the database is controlled centrally by the PHQ. “Due to security reasons, the work cannot be outsourced. The officials of the respective police stations are entering the data by themselves.”

While talking to this correspondent, several officers-in-charge of the police stations said information of around 20 to 25 citizens can be entered into the CIMS in a day. They have to do the work in addition to their regular activities.

Abdul Warish, deputy commissioner of CMP (north zone), said, “Around 1.1 lakh information forms have been collected under four police stations in my jurisdiction. Also, data of around 15,000 forms have already been entered into the database.”

Apart from that, data of around 19,500 forms were also entered under CMP's south zone while around 9,000 and 17,000 were entered into the database by CMP's port and west zone respectively, according to CMP.

However, many of the police officials alleged that residents were submitting incomplete and incorrect data.

“Many of the residents don't provide actual or complete information…It is causing the delay as we have to verify the information,” said Mohammed Alamgir Hossen, officer-in-charge of Akbarshah Police Station.

On the other hand, residents complained that the format of the form is not friendly and it requires too many information.

Mahfuzul Bari, a landlord in Jamalkhan area, said, “Some of the information at times are not easy to provide. For example, many of the house helps work part-time and it is hard to get their detailed information.”

When asked, OC Alamgir of Akbarshah Police Station said, “We are working to make people aware about the necessity of submitting their information through community policing,” he added.

Contacted, Iqbal Bahar, CMP commissioner, said, “The distribution of forms among the city dwellers is almost done. However, we are lagging behind in entering the data. We are working on it.”

“Additional manpower and logistical support have been provided to the police stations to end the mammoth task as soon as possible,” said the CMP boss.

He did not, however, clearly say when and how the additional manpower and logistical support were provided.