Body Cameras Budgeted, But Prices Not Yet Fixed: Home Affairs Adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that although the unit price of body cameras to be used by election duty officials has not yet been determined, a lump sum allocation of Tk 400 crore has been kept for the purpose. He also questioned how newspapers had reported a specific price before any official pricing decision had been made.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Monday, October 20, after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order, the adviser said that the procurement process for the body cameras would follow due procedure.

“Body cameras are not something that can just be bought off the shelf,” he said. “They will be purchased through the proper process.”

Referring to reports claiming that each camera would cost Tk 1 lakh, he remarked, “I do not yet know the price. How did you come to know? However, Tk 400 crore has been kept as a lump sum allocation. Negotiations will take place, and then the price will be determined. There will be discussions before finalizing the rate.”

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury further informed that while the proposal for purchasing body cameras had been raised in the Economic Affairs Advisory Council, it had not yet been placed before the Government Purchase Advisory Council.

Later in the day, during a press briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs conference room, the adviser said that efforts were underway to make the e-gate operational at Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport within the week. “Those who have e-passports will be able to enter through the e-gate by scanning their passports. By December this year, e-passport services will be available at all Bangladesh missions abroad,” he added.

Regarding the recent fire at the Cargo Village of Shahjalal International Airport, he said, “A meeting was held yesterday at the Cabinet Division. A high-level committee led by the Home Secretary has been formed to investigate the cause of the incident and recommend necessary measures.”

When asked whether there were any doubts or challenges regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, the adviser said, “There are no doubts, but there are challenges. To meet those challenges, special training has been arranged for law enforcement officials — something that was not done before. Moreover, we are trying to keep those who were on duty during the past three general elections as far away as possible from responsibilities in this election.”

The briefing was attended by Special Assistant (with the rank of State Minister) to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Solidarity Development Affairs, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Abdul Hafiz, ndc, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam, BPM, and Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, ndc, among others.