The Election Commission (EC) is set to monitor the District Council polls across the country on Monday through CCTV cameras at the EC headquarters, just as they did during the recent by-polls to Gaibhanda-5 constituency.
On October 12, the EC called off the by-polls after detecting irregularities at polling centres through the cameras. There were also allegations of vote rigging from opposition candidates, who boycotted the polls at the last moment.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal announced the decision to continue monitoring polling centres through CCTV cameras in a statement on Sunday.
The commission would continue to monitor the polls even if voter turnout was low, he said.
"We can monitor the elections from here. This is good practice," said Awal.
"We belong to no party. We want voters to be able to cast their votes. We are using CCTV cameras to ensure this," he added.
The CEC further said the commission was not under any pressure from anyone and was going about its work.
According to EC sources, the entire election will be monitored with 1,396 cameras for 48 hours before and after the polls.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Mohammad Enam Uddin, senior assistant secretary of the EC's procurement and printing wing, said an agreement had already been signed with the telecom industry association. With their help, returning officers installed cameras in all polling stations and polling booths.
Furthermore, seven people will be assigned to monitor activities at each polling station. An Adequate number of executive and judicial magistrates will also be present before and after the polls.
A few platoons of BGB, Costa Guard, and RAB mobile and striking forces have also been deployed.
According to the Election Management Wing of the Election Commission (EC), the footage recorded on the CCTV cameras will be directly monitored by a team of officials at the EC headquarters.
Monitors with the CCTV feeds will also be set up in the rooms of the chief election commissioner, four election commissioners, and the EC secretary.
Ashok Kumar Debnath, additional secretary of the commission, said special instructions have been given to returning officers to protect the secrecy of the vote and voters. Voters cannot enter centres with mobile phones.
According to EC data, elections were to be held in 61 districts of the country, excluding three hill districts.
However, in Bhola and Feni, there is no need for the polls as all the candidates have already been elected unopposed.
Apart from this, the elections in Noakhali and Chapainawabganj have been postponed by order of the court.
A total 26 chairmen have already been elected unopposed in the election. Besides, 65 candidates for general membership and 18 candidates for reserved membership have also already been elected.
According to the election management wing of EC, a total of 92 candidates will contest 33 chairman posts in the district council polls.
On the other hand, there are 603 candidates for reserved women seats and 1,485 candidates for general seats.