No budget for CCTV cameras in Feb-1 by-polls: election commissioner

The Election Commission will not use CCTV cameras in the by-elections to the five parliamentary seats, vacated after the BNP lawmakers' resignations, due to budget constraints.

Election Commissioner Md Alamgir made the announcement today in his office while talking to reporters at the EC secretariat in the capital.

"There is no budget for installing CCTV cameras in this election. Installation of cameras is not possible with the Annual Development Programme (ADP) allocation. ADP money can be spent on projects. For cameras, money has to be allocated from the revenue sector," he said.

Stating that CCTVs are not a solution, Alamgir said the EC does not see any need for this device. Many elections did not have CCTV cameras, yet no incidents occurred.

"Polls for five seats will be competitive. There will be a balance. As a result, there will be no need for cameras," he added.

The commissioner also said the EC can meet and make a decision, if necessary, to use cameras as there is plenty of time.

By-elections to the five parliamentary seats, left vacant after BNP MPs resigned, will be held on February 1, 2023.

EC will conduct the by-polls to parliamentary seats -- Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2, and Brahmanbaria-2.

The EC secretary said candidates can submit their nomination papers till January 5. Returning officers will scrutinise the nomination papers on January 8 and January 15 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

On December 11, five out of seven BNP members of parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement.

The MPs who resigned were: Md Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2; and Rumeen Farhana, from women's reserved seats.

Md Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia, and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2, Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, could not submit their resignations to the Speaker in person.