Home ›› 04 Jan 2022 ›› Front
With the growing concern about personal security and properties, usage of electronic surveillance system has become the norm rather than the exception.
Consequently, the security equipment market is expanding rapidly in Bangladesh with 30 per cent growth annually.
An extensive application of monitoring equipment thereby has opened up a new business window prompting even local entrepreneurs to go for production of such items though a lion’s share of domestic demand is met by import.
The use of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) has become super handy accentuated in commercial places including banks, hospitals, industries, shopping malls, residential hotels, and more or less in all business centres.
Besides, the government is focusing on installation of CCTVs in offices, industries, traffic signals, educational institutions, airports and every possible place which is either historically or commercially important to raise security.
As per the survey of Economist Intelligence Unit, Dhaka is the seven most unsafe cities in the world having poor digital, infrastructure, personal and environmental security and ranked 54th among the 60 cities featured in the Safe Cities Index 2021.
The sense of insecurity is inspiring the city dwellers mostly to install security system in their residential buildings and businesses.
In a survey titled “Impact of CCTV Surveillance on Crime Prevention: A Study in Dhaka City’’, CCTV was found to have a great role in the detection and prevention of crime.
The opinion survey also reveals that CCTV surveillance or what is otherwise called “Big Brother Surveillance” may drive out criminals from one place while making another place prone to crimes where there is no monitoring.
Research also shows that surveillance camera is highly effective in crime prevention, specifically crime against person and property, by recording scenes that can help identify reported theft or robbery.
A Dhanmondi resident Mohammad Shajahan was spotted to be purchasing CCTV from New Super Market at Baitul Mukarram in the capital.
Talking to The Business Post, he said out of security concern he decided to install CCTV in his house.
“The thieves are active in the city round the clock. Besides, conscious tenants seek availability of vigilance cameras while renting,” he added.
Apart from the city dwellers, corporate houses are also setting security system to ensure transparency in their business and monitoring businesses remotely.
Zahirul Islam who has wholesale business in Chawk Bazar said he cannot remain present in his office all time since he has other business to deal with, and so he decided to install CCTV to monitor all businesses from his office or home.
“This sort of vigilance helps me keep an eye on business as well as on my staff members, who are found serious in performing their duties,” he held.
Surveillance equipment market
The Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh said their current market size is worth Tk 700 crore and is expanding 30 per cent annually.
While visiting several markets at Baitul Mokarram and Elephant Road, it was found that the sale of surveillance equipment is on the rise.
According to the sector people, Dahua, Hikvision, Jovision, AVTech, Campro and VTech are some well-known brands in the country while the products are priced at between Tk 1000 and Tk 40,000.
The country needs 3 to 4 lakh pieces of CCTV annually. Bangladesh is highly dependent on China to import the equipment to meet local demand. Besides, some products are imported from Portugal, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The association treasurer Md Mahmood-E-Khoda said earlier CCTVs were used in commercial places, but now they have become a part and parcel of city life.
“The decrease in price and technological advancement are boosting the market. The price is down by 60 per cent over the last 15 years. Consumers can use CCTV in their mobile phone with a memory card costing only Tk 3,000 to 4,000,” he added.
Bikrampur Camera House Manager Sheikh NazimUddin said consumers can avail CCTV at only Tk 1,200 which was a dream even a decade back.
Low price and security concern are driving the city dwellers to go for the monitoring devices, he observed.
Rahatul Islam of Best Security at Elephant Road argued that Dahua, Hikvision are best quality camera with prices ranging from Tk 1000 to Tk 40,000.
Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has installed a significant number of CCTVs in mostly public places to ensure security.
Currently, DMP operates 40,000 to 50,000 closed-circuit cameras and have a plan to set 1 lakh such more to bring the entire city under the surveillance network, according to DMP Logistic, Procurement and Finance Division.
Why local manufactures lag behind
Though there is a Tk 700-crore CCTV market, local manufacturers cannot keep pace with the import.
Md Liakat Ali, deputy managing director, Walton, said they have realised the importance of surveillance products and are planning to bring them to market soon.
“We have already finalised product design and are all set to go for production of CCTV. I hope we will be able to market it within April next year,” he told The Business Post.
According to Zakir Uddin Ahmed, publicity secretary of Electronics Safety and Security Association of Bangladesh, many entrepreneurs do not feel encouraged to manufacture the surveillance equipment due to uneven competition in the market.
“But still some are planning to make it locally. The country will find a positive result soon,” he pointed out.
