The initiative which has been taken nine years ago to enhance surveillance and improve law enforcement in Jashore Municipality is facing severe setbacks, as more than half of the installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras now non-functional.
In March 2017, Jashore Municipality installed 130 CCTV cameras across 76 key locations, including major roads and intersections, at a cost of Tk 16 lakh. But, only 70 remain operational.
Of the remaining 60, more than 20 cameras have been stolen, while the rest lie damaged or disconnected.
But the municipal authorities are unable to provide clear answers regarding the current state of the surveillance system.
Civic groups and security experts believe that the lack of functioning surveillance is compromising public safety and enabling crime to go unchecked so there is a need to install more CCTV cameras across the city to reduce crime trends and increase surveillance.
The Times of Bangladesh correspondent visited several prominent locations in the city, including Judge Court, Doratana, and MK Road, where CCTV cameras have been installed on electricity poles.
The observations revealed that the wires of some of the cameras were disconnected, and some of the cameras were broken and some CCTV cameras are hanging on wires.
These areas, notorious for thefts, robberies, and other crimes, are now without adequate monitoring, allowing many offenders to evade justice.
In October 2015, the original CCTV plan was conceived during a Jashore District Law and Order Committee meeting. According to the decision, the cameras were installed during the 2017–18 fiscal year and are monitored by the district police.
In 2021, the municipality allocated an additional Tk 9 lakh to repair 90 cameras. However, no further maintenance or upgrades have been made in the past four years.
Zillur Rahman Bhitu, member secretary of the Municipal Conscious Citizens Committee, said, “Jashore is a border district where the flow of arms and narcotics is already a challenge”. He said coupled with rising crime, the need for modern surveillance tools has become urgent.
Security analyst Major (Retd) ANM Mustafa Boni echoed these concerns, emphasizing the preventive role of CCTV technology. “Cameras deter crime and help identify offenders before or after a crime occurs. Their footage can be crucial evidence in investigations,” he said.
While asked about the current status of the CCTV cameras installed for the security of the municipal area, Municipal Administrator Md Rafiqul Hasan admitted to not having a clear understanding of the current status of the surveillance network and said, “I have no clear idea about this. I cannot say how many cameras are operational.”
However, he confirmed that the installation of new cameras is under consideration.
Meanwhile, Jashore Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Noor-e-Alam Siddiqui stated that the CCTV system is being monitored from the office of the Superintendent of Police. He noted that CCTV footage contributed to the arrest of 57 suspects in connection with 19 murder cases over the past three months.