Sharif Osman Hadi Offers 200-Crore Fund for Election CCTV Installation

Sharif Osman Hadi, the spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha and a candidate for Dhaka-8, has stated that he will not participate in the upcoming election unless CCTV cameras are installed at all polling centers. He further offered to donate 20 billion BDT (200 crore) for the purchase of CCTV cameras if the Election Commission (EC) requires it.

Hadi made the remarks on 6 December during the formal launch of the Election Working Alliance (EWA) and a roundtable discussion titled “National Election 2026: Challenges and Measures” at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

“Due to the 200 crore taka required, if the election cannot use CCTV cameras, I can donate the amount,” Hadi said. “By ‘khairat’ I mean charitable giving in Greater Barishal; it is not a negative term. If the Election Commission wants, remittance contributors can fund the 200 crore for CCTV cameras. If intentions are good, collectively we can ensure the cameras are installed. But the question is whether the EC will actually operate them. If installation takes until the Day of Judgment, then the election will happen then—but we don’t need an election that late.”

Hadi also criticized the EC, warning of flawed elections where favoritism might occur. He questioned the regulation of campaign expenses, noting that candidates are allowed to spend 2.5 million BDT (or 10 taka per candidate under government calculations). He asked how the EC could verify whether a candidate exceeded the limit, how overspending could be proven, and whether MPs could be disqualified for violations.

The roundtable was presided over by Professor Dr. Shariful Alam, former Secretary of the Bangladesh Government. The keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr. Shafiul Islam of Rajshahi University. Panelists included political scientists, former secretaries, legal experts, and leaders from various political parties, including Dilara Chowdhury, Professor Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Mohammad Abdul Kaiyum, Iqtedar Ahmed, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, Advocate Jasim Uddin Government, Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili, Maulana Ahmad Abdul Kaiyum, and Professor Kazi Minhajul Alam.

The discussion addressed challenges in ensuring fair elections, transparency in campaign finance, and the need for full deployment of technological measures such as CCTV to strengthen electoral integrity.

DBTech/BN/EK/OR