Muktadesh Desk: Finance Advisor Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed has said that 40,000 body-worn cameras are not being purchased for the security of polling stations in the next parliamentary elections. He said, “As per the previous decision, 40,000 body-worn cameras are not being purchased for the security of polling stations. They will be provided only to those centers that are risky. These will be purchased with transparency.”
He told reporters after the meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement and the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs held at the conference room of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat on Tuesday (November 18). The two meetings were held under the chairmanship of Finance Advisor Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed.
In response to a question about whether there has been any discussion on body cameras and what is the progress, the Finance Advisor said, “A lot has been reviewed about body cameras. Initially, many body cameras were to be made, that is why we asked you to review them. The price will come and the most important thing is how to do the procurement, so that the procurement is a transparent process.’
He said, ‘The body camera will come, maybe now it will come as a little rational. We have suggested body cameras only in sensitive places. In fact, the Ministry of Home Affairs is suggesting it.’
Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed said that they cannot provide body cameras everywhere, ‘These are matters of monitoring. Action will have to be taken when the pictures come. Therefore, they will buy the sensitive things after talking to the Election Commission.’
Earlier, 40,000 body cameras were supposed to be purchased, and now, when asked whether that number will be reduced, the financial advisor said, ‘That is what is being rationalized. The number will be reduced. But I will not say how much it will be reduced now. It will be known when the proposal comes.’
In response to the question about when the purchase will be made, he said, ‘Soon. They may bring it next week.’
At this time, the weapons of the Ansars have become very old, said Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed. He said that 17 thousand shotguns will be purchased for the Ansars before the elections.
The advisor also said that due to the demand, it has been decided to allocate funds to purchase one crore e-passport books. In addition, considering the vaccine shortage, EPI vaccines will be purchased. He also said that rice and wheat will be imported before Ramadan to keep prices under control at this time.
