The interim administration is moving ahead with plans to equip police with at least 40,000 body-worn cameras to boost security at polling stations during the February 2025 general election.

The proposal was reviewed yesterday at a high-level meeting at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Procurement in Final Stages

According to the Chief Adviser’s Office, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Special Assistants Khuda Baksh Chowdhury and Faiz Tayeb Ahmed were present.

Speaking after the meeting, Faiz Tayeb confirmed that the procurement process for the cameras — widely known as bodycams — was nearing completion. He stressed their importance in safeguarding thousands of polling centres deemed high-risk.

“We aim to have the cameras ready by October so police can be trained on their core functions, including AI-enabled features,” Tayeb said.

Authorities have reportedly engaged three potential suppliers from Germany, China, and Thailand. The cameras will be chest-mounted for both officers and constables on election duty.

Chief Adviser’s Directive

Prof Yunus instructed officials to speed up the procurement process and provide thorough training to police personnel ahead of the polls.

“We must ensure absolute security at every polling station, regardless of cost. Our goal is to deliver the most free, fair, and peaceful election in Bangladesh’s history,” he stated.

Election App in the Works

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on telecommunications and ICT announced plans for a dedicated election mobile app.

The platform will offer voters details about candidates, booth locations, real-time updates, and an interactive system for lodging complaints. Prof Yunus urged that the app be fast-tracked and designed for ease of use by over 100 million voters nationwide.