Drone-Driven Democracy: EC Monitors Polls via Live Feeds Nationwide
The Election Commission (EC) is monitoring the nationwide voting process through live feeds collected from police body-worn cameras, CCTV cameras, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The country’s eight divisions have been divided into four sub-cells for real-time observation and coordination.
Such monitoring activities were observed around 9:30 am on Thursday, February 12, at the Law and Order Coordination Cell set up at the Election Commission building.
Speaking to journalists at the time, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “You may also observe the voting situation and inform us.”
The coordination cell includes officials from the Air Force, Police, Army, and other government departments and agencies. According to the Law and Order Coordination Cell, monitoring has been underway since 7:30 am. “So far, no major untoward incidents have been reported,” officials said. Voting conditions are being observed through polling centers’ own CCTV systems, police body-worn cameras, drones, and UAVs operated by the Bangladesh Air Force. The ‘Election Security’ app is also being used to monitor the situation.
It has been learned that approximately 1.1 million votes had been cast by 9:00 am.
EC officials said that for the first time, the Air Force is providing direct live feeds from unmanned aerial vehicles. Similarly, live footage is being received from police body-worn cameras and drones operated by various law enforcement agencies. In addition, the Election Commission is receiving instant updates through the Election Security app.
Voting began at 7:30 am and will continue uninterrupted until 4:30 pm.
Earlier, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah stated, “Drones and body-worn cameras will be used for election monitoring. More than 90 percent of polling centers have CCTV cameras to ensure surveillance. Over 500,000 polling officers will be deployed. Distribution of ballot papers and election materials to polling centers began yesterday and will be completed by evening. The live feed from body-worn cameras will remain with the Election Commission. These feeds will be necessary where the EC needs to make critical decisions.”
Out of the country’s 300 parliamentary constituencies, voting is being held in 299 constituencies across 42,651 polling centers. The election in Sherpur-3 constituency has been postponed due to the death of a candidate. As a result, voting will not take place in its 128 polling centers; the Election Commission will announce a fresh schedule for that constituency later.
According to EC data, 50 out of the 60 registered political parties are participating in this election. A total of 2,028 candidates are contesting—1,755 nominated by political parties and 273 independent candidates. Among them, 83 are women candidates, including 63 from political parties and 20 independents.
DBTech/DHE/EK/OR
