Man Jailed After Attempting to Steal Highway AI Camera

Police have arrested a man and remanded him into judicial custody following a failed attempt to steal a newly installed artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance camera along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.

The incident occurred late on Tuesday night in the Raypur area of Daudkandi upazila under Comilla district. According to Mohammad Shahinur Alam Khan, Superintendent of Police for the Comilla region Highway Police, the suspect was caught red-handed whilst trying to dismantle the surveillance equipment. The arrested individual has been identified as 40-year-old Farooq, son of Dhanu Miah, hailing from the Malikhil neighbourhood of Daudkandi. Following his arrest, police registered a regular criminal case against him, after which a local court ordered his detention in prison.

Vigilant Locals Alert Authorities

Detailing the sequence of events, Premdas Roy, Officer-in-Charge of Daudkandi Highway Crossing Police Station, stated that the suspect attempted to scale the mounting pole of an AI camera at approximately 1:30 AM on Tuesday. Sensing suspicious activity in the dead of night, local residents acted swiftly to apprehend Farooq at the scene before dialing the national emergency helpline 999.

Upon receiving the alert from the emergency operator, a Highway Police patrol team dispatched immediately to the location, took custody of the suspect, and subsequently transferred him to the Daudkandi Model Police Station for formal processing. Charges related to the attempted theft of state property were promptly filed, and he was presented before the magistrate, who denied bail and ordered him sent to jail.

Safeguard Efforts and Infrastructure Importance

The installation of high-tech AI cameras forms part of a broader government initiative to modernise highway infrastructure and improve traffic monitoring, speed enforcement, and crime prevention along Bangladesh’s busiest transport corridors. The Dhaka-Chittagong Highway serves as the economic lifeline of the country, carrying the bulk of industrial freight between the capital and the nation’s principal seaport.

Commenting on the incident, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shahinur Alam Khan highlighted the crucial role these technological installations play in public safety. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies remain steadfast in maintaining strict surveillance to protect high-value national assets. Calling upon the public to remain vigilant, he urged local communities along the highway to cooperate with authorities in safeguarding state property, noting that these advanced monitoring systems are vital for ensuring overall road safety and order.