DHAKA, Sept 23 – The Bangladesh government has approved the purchase of 40,000 body-worn cameras for police personnel to boost transparency, accountability, and security during the upcoming national parliamentary elections.
The decision came at a meeting of the advisers’ council committee on government procurement, chaired by Finance Adviser Salauddin Ahmed on Monday.
“These cameras are essential for the police. We have approved the proposal and must procure them swiftly,” Ahmed told reporters after the meeting, emphasizing the urgency ahead of the polls.
The procurement will be fully funded by the Government of Bangladesh under the Ministry of Finance’s election budget but handled through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure quality control and eliminate tender-related risks.
When asked about the cost, the adviser declined to provide specific figures but reiterated that transparency and efficiency were driving the decision to involve UNDP.
The cameras are expected to help maintain law and order and provide real-time evidence during election security operations, reducing the scope for disputes or misconduct allegations.