Bangladesh’s Interim Government is preparing to deploy at least 40,000 body-worn cameras for police officers in a bid to tighten security and transparency during the upcoming general election, scheduled for February 2026.
The plan was finalised at a high-level meeting on Saturday at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Home Adviser Lt General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, along with the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistants Khuda Baksh Chowdhury and Faiz Tayeb Ahmed, were present.
Faiz Tayeb Ahmed confirmed that the procurement process is in its final stage, with three companies from Germany, China, and Thailand shortlisted to supply the cameras. The target is to have the devices delivered by October, allowing time for police officers to receive training on their use — including AI-powered features designed to capture and store evidence of any irregularities.
“These bodycams will be crucial for security at thousands of vulnerable polling centres,” Faiz Tayeb Ahmed said, stressing that the devices will be worn on the chests of officers and constables during election duty.
Professor Muhammad Yunus directed officials to fast-track the procurement and ensure comprehensive training for police personnel. “We must guarantee complete security at all polling centres, no matter the cost. Our goal is to make the February election the most free, fair, and peaceful in the country’s history,” the Chief Adviser said.
The meeting also saw the unveiling of plans for a dedicated Election App, to be launched ahead of the polls. The app will provide voter-friendly access to candidate profiles, polling centre details, live updates, and a feature for lodging complaints directly to election authorities.
Officials have been instructed to accelerate the app’s development to ensure it is fully functional and easy to use for Bangladesh’s more than 100 million voters.
