ICT-Based Crime Prevention Education in Dhaka, Bangladesh

In the rapidly expanding urban landscape of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the intersection of extreme poverty and fast-paced urbanization has created significant security challenges. To address these systemic issues, a new international partnership is leveraging cutting-edge educational psychology and information technology to foster safer communities from the ground up.

Kagawa University has officially entered into a contract with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shikoku Center to launch a grassroots technical cooperation project focused on ICT-based crime prevention education in Bangladesh. Signed on March 31, 2026, the initiative aims to reduce crime and delinquency in Dhaka by empowering local residents through digital tools and structured educational frameworks according to Kagawa University.

The project is spearheaded by Professor Tomoo Okubo of the Faculty of Education, whose research in criminal and educational psychology provides the academic foundation for the intervention. By focusing on the most vulnerable sectors of society—particularly those living in slum areas—the program seeks to move beyond traditional policing, instead promoting community-led safety and awareness.

Bridging Technology and Safety in Dhaka’s Slums

Dhaka is currently facing a critical social juncture. As the city grows, the disparity in security infrastructure has left impoverished regions particularly susceptible to crime. The Kagawa University initiative targets these high-risk zones, utilizing a strategy that combines local partnership with technological adaptation.

Central to the project is the collaboration with the University of Dhaka. Together, the institutions will work to localize crime prevention applications and educational materials to ensure they are culturally and linguistically relevant to the local population. This is not merely a transfer of software, but a comprehensive effort to build a sustainable safety ecosystem.

The project identifies several key stakeholders for its rollout:

• Children and Women: Targeted educational programs to increase personal safety awareness and reduce vulnerability.
• University Volunteers: Training Dhaka University students to act as mentors and facilitators, ensuring the project is driven by the youth generation.
• Vigilante Groups: Providing structured ICT training to local community watch groups to improve the efficiency and coordination of neighborhood patrols.

The Role of ICT in Community Resilience

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the primary engine of this initiative. Rather than relying on top-down surveillance, the project emphasizes “preventative education”—teaching residents how to identify risks and utilize digital tools to mitigate them.

Professor Okubo’s expertise in the field is well-documented. His recent academic work includes the development of crime prevention apps for middle school students and the verification of their effectiveness in shifting students from being passive recipients of safety knowledge to active educators as detailed in the Kagawa University researcher database. By applying these proven Japanese methodologies to the context of Bangladesh, the project aims to create a scalable model for urban crime reduction.

The objective is to foster a “resident-led” approach to safety. By equipping community members with the tools to monitor their own environments and educate their peers, the project seeks to create a long-term deterrent against delinquency and criminal activity in the city’s most neglected quarters.

Academic Expertise Driving Global Application

The success of such a complex social intervention depends heavily on the psychological framework behind it. Professor Tomoo Okubo brings a multifaceted academic background to the project, holding a PhD in Human Sciences from Waseda University. His research focuses on the intersection of educational psychology, criminal psychology, and school adaptation via researchmap.

Okubo’s career has been marked by a commitment to practical application. His work has explored the effects of community safety map creation among elementary and university students, as well as the psychology of shoplifting and juvenile delinquency. This deep understanding of the “why” behind criminal behavior allows the Bangladesh project to address the root causes of instability rather than just the symptoms.

His recognition in the field—including a 2026 Japan Psychological Association Academic Conference Excellent Presentation Award—underscores the rigor being applied to this international venture. The project is not an experiment, but the application of a refined academic discipline to a global crisis.

A Reciprocal Learning Model for Japan and Bangladesh

While the immediate goal is the improvement of safety in Dhaka, the project is designed as a bidirectional exchange of knowledge. Kagawa University has explicitly stated that the insights and outcomes gained from the Bangladesh operation will be integrated back into Japan’s own crime prevention strategies.

The university intends to collaborate with domestic crime prevention patrol teams to promote the proactive participation of younger generations in community safety. By testing these ICT tools in the challenging environment of a developing megacity, the researchers expect to uncover new efficiencies and methodologies that can enhance the sophistication of safety education within Japan.

This creates a unique feedback loop: Japanese academic theory is tested in the field in Bangladesh, and the resulting real-world data is used to refine safety protocols in Japanese cities. This approach recognizes that urban security challenges are increasingly global, and the solutions must be equally transnational.

Project Overview and Timeline

The implementation of this project marks a significant step in the use of “soft power” and academic expertise to solve hard security problems. By focusing on education, technology, and community agency, Kagawa University and JICA are attempting to build a blueprint for urban safety that can be replicated in other rapidly growing cities across the Global South.

The next phase of the project involves the systematic deployment of localized educational materials and the commencement of volunteer training in Dhaka. Official updates on the project’s milestones are expected as the implementation period progresses through 2026.

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