Bangladesh to buy 40,000 body cameras for election security

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed says new law enforcement personnel will also be recruited to bolster security during the elections

The government has decided to purchase 40,000 body-worn cameras, commonly known as bodycams, to support law-enforcing agencies during the upcoming national parliamentary election.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced the move on Tuesday.

With the election expected to be held in early February, many have raised doubts about whether the polls would be free and fair.

Against this backdrop, the adviser said new law enforcement personnel will be recruited, alongside the introduction of bodycams.

“Police personnel on duty during the national election will be provided with body cameras. A preliminary plan has been made for [the procurement of] more than 40,000 body cameras. We have approved this,” said Salehuddin.

When asked about the cost of the procurement, Salehuddin said: “I won’t mention the amount because we will procure them through United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), just as we bring in EPI vaccines through UNICEF."

"The cost of the body cameras will be borne by the government. UNDP will assist in ensuring proper standards and prices of the products. This way, no debate will arise, because we don’t want to get into negotiations over price with anyone.”

The adviser also revealed that two proposals had been approved to renovate and upgrade the airports in Dhaka and Chattogram.

“The runway at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport needs to be widened further. At present, it is at grade one level. It will be upgraded to grade two. And the control tower in Dhaka will be further modernised.”