Digital Tools and Daily Vigilance: PKSF Event Highlights “MeeMai” Crime-Prevention App

To build safer living environments, sector specialists are placing the highest importance on strengthening community engagement, enhancing everyday crime monitoring, and expanding the use of digital technology. As part of this effort, on Tuesday, 2 December, a crime-prevention app named “MeeMai” was presented at a seminar held at the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in Agargaon, Dhaka. Through this app, citizens can identify safe and risky locations, provide real-time information, and select alternative routes to avoid unsafe areas. It helps cultivate a culture of observation and alertness during ordinary daily walks.

The international seminar titled “Building Resilient Communities and Improving Living Environment in Bangladesh” was held at PKSF Bhaban-1. The keynote paper on ICT-based crime-prevention education and community support models in Bangladesh was presented by Dr. Tomo Okubo and Dr. Shiho Tanaka of Kagawa University and Dr. Naonori Kusakabe of Rikkyo University.

In addition, Dr. B. M. Sajjad Hossain, Associate Professor at AIUB; Ruhi Das, Executive Director of PKSF’s partner organization BASTOB; Mifta Naim Huda, Executive Director of SIDDHIKA; Md. Sohrab Ali Khan, Deputy Executive Director of TMSS; and Tariq Saeed Harun, Director of RDRS-Bangladesh, also addressed the seminar.

Speakers said that to reduce crime rates in the country, community-based crime-prevention strategies must be emphasized alongside traditional law-enforcement activities. Designing urban spaces that increase surveillance and reduce opportunities for crime can make prevention efforts more effective.

They noted that crime happens more due to environmental factors rather than human factors, and therefore, community-based safety systems should be developed based on this concept.

The seminar underscored the importance of mutual cooperation and enhanced social communication. Speakers mentioned that the involvement of youth, university-based patrol teams, route mapping around educational institutions, and student participation in monitoring high-risk zones are progressively strengthening the community safety network.

Explaining the distinction between crime-cause theories and crime-opportunity theories, the speakers said that parks, walkways, neglected spaces, and dark areas tend to have higher crime rates due to the lack of surveillance.

At the event, PKSF Managing Director Fazlul Kader delivered the welcome speech, while Professor Toufiqul Islam, a member of the PKSF Board of Directors, offered the vote of thanks at the end of the seminar.

DBTech/FS/IK/OR