Govt to procure 40,000 body cameras for polls duty

Staff Reporter :

The government has decided to purchase 40,000 body cameras for police personnel to ensure transparency and accountability during election duties, Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement Advisory Council at the Secretariat, Dr. Salehuddin said the procurement would be made with government funds through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“One of the important issues discussed today was the approval to provide 40,000 body cameras to police for use during elections.

This is essential, and the proposal has been approved. The cameras must be brought in quickly,” he said.

When asked about the cost, he noted that the exact figure could not yet be disclosed but assured that the Finance Ministry would allocate funds under the election budget.

“The money will come from the government’s own resources. This will be part of election expenditure.

We are giving these cameras to the police, not the Election Commission. There will be no shortage of resources for election management,” he added. Why through UNDP?

Explaining why the cameras would be procured via UNDP, Dr. Salehuddin drew a comparison with vaccine purchases through UNICEF.

“If we go for open tender, questions may arise about quality and price. UNDP ensures both quality and competitive pricing.

This avoids negotiations with private suppliers and maintains transparency,” he said.

He further clarified that while the funding will come entirely from the Bangladesh government, the procurement channel through UNDP will help ensure accountability and efficiency.