The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has urged all landlords, tenants and mess residents in the capital to register with the Citizen Information Management System (CIMS), saying the digital database is playing an important role in strengthening public safety and technology-based policing.
According to the DMP, around 3,673,238 households have so far been registered in the CIMS database, which contains information on more than five million residents. Describing the initiative as an ongoing process, the police said participation by all city residents is essential to ensuring both individual and national security, UNB reports.
The software-based CIMS programme was formally launched at Ramna Police Station on Sept 1, 2016, to enhance security across the capital. It was later expanded to all police stations in Dhaka in 2017, while the CIMS mobile app was introduced in 2019 to make the registration process easier for citizens.
The DMP said CIMS stores accurate and updated information on residents, making beat policing more effective. The database also helps prevent crime, supports investigations, assists in identifying missing persons, verifies the identities of suspected individuals and enables faster access to information during emergencies.
Registration forms are available at all police stations and police outposts in Dhaka. Residents can collect the forms, fill them out and submit them to the respective police station. The DMP advised applicants to keep a photocopy of the completed form for future reference.
The capital's police stations are divided into multiple beats, each overseen by a designated beat officer. Residents may contact their respective beat officers directly for police assistance. Those who change their address are required to register again with the police station having jurisdiction over their new residence.
The DMP said CIMS also benefits landlords by helping verify the identities of tenants, reducing the risk of criminals or fraudsters taking shelter in rented properties and protecting landlords from unnecessary harassment.
Tenants, meanwhile, can become acquainted with their beat officers, seek legal assistance when necessary and benefit from identity verification through the system.
The police said the CIMS database has been contributing to criminal investigations by helping identify absconding offenders, verify information on suspects and facilitate prompt action to prevent crime. It also strengthens beat policing and enhances public trust between citizens and the police.
The DMP called on all landlords, tenants and mess members in the capital to complete their CIMS registration to help build a safer, smarter and crime-free Dhaka.