Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today demanded  installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all polling centres across the country to ensure a free, fair and secure election.

"We demanded installation of CCTV cameras at all polling centres to ensure security. Although the commission has issued a circular in this regard, it  has not yet been fully implemented in practice," said Jamaat Assistant  Secretary General and central publicity department chief Advocate Ehsanul  Mahbub Zubayer.

He was briefing journalists following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Bhaban in the capital's  Agargaon Today.

Zubayer said that the number of centres where cameras have been installed is insufficient and less than half of the total. 

He also alleged that in many cases the cameras are positioned facing outside the centres, making it impossible to record irregularities or identify  miscreants inside the polling rooms.

"We clearly told the commission that effective CCTV cameras must be installed inside polling centres to avoid any untoward incidents and to identify  troublemakers," he added, noting that the commission has assured them of  taking necessary steps.

Replying to a question on why Jamaat has not nominated any female candidates in the election, Zubayer said women's leadership in the party exceeds 40  percent from the grassroots to the top level. He added that women also  constitute over 40 percent of the party's highest policy-making body, the  central Majlis-e-Shura.

On the issue of postal ballots for expatriate voters, he said there had been some confusion regarding the deadline for sending votes. "Expatriates  believed January 25 was the last date. The commission has informed us that  ballots sent by January 31 will reach the country before vote counting on  February 12 and will be accepted," he said.

The Jamaat delegation also urged the CEC to ensure the security of female party workers and to create a level playing field for all political parties.

Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed was present at the meeting. Other members of the Jamaat delegation included  Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim and election management  committee member Md Oliullah Noman.