SECOND EDITION
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016
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Falgun 22, 1422, Jamadiul Awal 24, 1437
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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 319
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www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10
DMP's tenant info form raises security concerns
n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
n Arifur Rahman Rabbi
INSIDE
The recent initiative of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to collect information of tenants and landlords living in the capital – for the purported curbing of militant activities – has raised several eyebrows. While they appreciate the aim of such initiative, many Dhaka residents are concerned that collection of such personal and sensitive information could compromise both their security and privacy, should it fall into the wrong hands. “I appreciate police's efforts to prevent militant or criminal activities. But what will happen if this information about me and my family members somehow gets leaked? It is a possibility,” said Atikur Rahman, a landlord in Bailey Road area. The tenants fear that if their personal details get leaked, it could be used against them to extort money, harass their female family members, or even abduct their children. “I do not think providing personal details of every single member of my family is necessary. If I provide all my information as the head of my family, they [police] can ask me what they need to know regarding my family,” said Abul Khair, a resident of RK Mission Road in Gopibagh. The DMP has been distributing the tenant/landlord information form to every household that falls within its jurisdiction for several months now. But recently the drive gained momentum, especially after detectives busted militant dens and seized massive collections of bombs and explosive material in different residential areas in Dhaka. Despite the reservations and concerns, all the landlords that talked to the Dhaka Tribune said they had collected their tenants'
Banasree mother on five-day remand
information and submitted them to the DMP, because they do not want to get into any trouble. Meanwhile, sources at the DMP headquarters told the Dhaka Tribune that DMP Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia in a meeting instructed all deputy commissioners to collect the information and update the database by March 15. If any landlord or tenant fails to submit the form in due time, legal action will be taken against them, the DMP chief said at the meeting, according to the sources.
How safe or practical is this information collection process?
Parents are worried that the details of their children could easily be used to abduct them. Girls and young women are also likely to face sexual harassment if the information is leaked
The concerned tenants and landlords also question DMP's information collection process.
“I have travelled to many countries. Nowhere have I seen any government agency collect information on citizens this way,” Atikur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune. “Why do they [police] need to collect all this information when it is already available in the national ID database?” asked Eti Laila Kazi, an assistant professor at a private university in the capital and a tenant in Bailey Road. “This is not the right way to collect people's information,” she told the Dhaka Tribune. The form, titled “Tenant Registration Form”, asks for the tenant or the flat/house owner's name, photo, permanent address, workplace address, religion, mobile phone PAGE 2 COLUMN 1
RAB busts 14 cyber fraudsters including 12 foreigners
Charge sheets in Tavella, Kunio murders soon
Tumour genetics reveal cancer treatment revolution
RAB has detained 14 men, including 12 foreigners, of a cyber fraud gang involved in swindling money using Facebook. They were detained from Uttara, Nikunja and Bashundhara in Dhaka between Thursday night and
Police’s investigation into last year’s sensational murders of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella and Japanese national Hoshi Kunio is nearly completed, and they hope to submit the charge sheets at the shortest possible time. PAGE 5
A landmark discovery into genetic makeup of tumours has the potential to open a new front in the war on cancer, delivering potent therapies tailored to individual patients, The Guardian reported quoting scientists. PAGE 23
early Friday. RAB also seized a good number of mobile phones, laptops and foreign currencies from the men. PAGE 3
A Dhaka court yesterday put Mahfuza Malek Jesmin, who confessed to strangling her two children to death, on a five-day police remand. Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Rani Chakrabarty gave the order after Investigation Officer Mustafizur Rahman produced Mahfuza before the court with a 10-day remand plea. The IO said that they would investigate whether anyone else was involved in the double murder. Father of the victims Amanullah filed the murder case against Mahfuza with Rampura police on Thursday night. In the case, he mentioned that Mahfuza had been suffering from psychological disorder. Fourteen-year-old Nusrat Jahan and six-year-old Alvi Aman were declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after they were taken there unconscious on February 29. At the time, Mahfuza claimed that the children had fallen asleep after having leftover Chinese food for lunch and did not wake up. After post-mortem examinations, doctors said that injury marks were found on the children’s necks. The boy also had injury marks on his legs and his sister had eye injuries. Polices yesterday said that Mahfuza had given confusing statements to the Rapid Action Battalion. During interrogation, she told RAB that a bout of depression brought on by anxiety about the siblings’ future had caused her to murder them. Earlier, RAB claimed that Mahfuza had killed her children over an extramarital affair, and psychological and social disorder. But the elite force later said that it had not found evidence of an affair. l