CA directs quick purchase of body-worn cameras to ensure transparency in polls

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed the authorities concerned to procure an adequate number of body-worn cameras at the earliest for law enforcement agencies to ensure transparency, security, and peace during the upcoming national election.

“All necessary preparations must be completed within the quickest possible time to organize a free, fair, and peaceful election. We must build such confidence among the voters so that they can feel that a conducive and safe environment exists for voting,” he said.

The Chief Adviser gave the instruction at a meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna here on Tuesday, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (CA) for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Home Secretary Nasimul Gani, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam and representatives from different concerned agencies were present at the meeting.

The Chief Adviser also instructed that the procurement process of body-worn cameras and required training programmes must be completed by December so that violence or undesirable situations during the election period can be effectively prevented.

“Alongside strengthening the law enforcement capacities to prevent any untoward incident related to the elections, we must create such a structure that will leave no room for anyone to worsen the situation,” said Professor Yunus.

During the meeting, Faiz Ahmad informed that preliminary training for police personnel has already begun using the stock of body-worn cameras currently available in the country.

Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam said that once the new cameras arrive, training programmes will be conducted in all districts.

He also said that with the help of body-worn cameras, the situation at polling centers could be monitored centrally as well as from every police station and the office of each district’s Superintendent of Police (SP).