CCTV guideline on the cards

The government is going to prepare a “Closed-circuit television (CCTV) guideline” to monitor such surveillance systems installed and operated by public and private organisations in the country. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) recently held a meeting with the ministries concerned, agencies and other stakeholders to prepare the “open guideline” following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s instructions in this regard. The guideline would enable government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, to easily obtain CCTV footage from the private and public sources concerned to curb terrorist activities. Director general of PMO, Md Abdul Halim, told The Independent that they will prepare a draft guideline by this month and then forward it to the higher ups for further action. “After preparing the guideline, permission should be taken from the authorities concerned to install and operate CCTVs at their respective areas so that government agencies could obtain CCTV footage, whenever required,” he said.
“The proposed guideline would not control CCTV owners, but it will help to install a standard device in the respective places and also help law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain the required footage legally,” he added. “Under the proposed guideline, a high-powered taskforce, headed by a senior home ministry official and comprising officials from the telecommunications ministry, law enforcement and the intelligence agencies, would be formed,” Halim said. “According to the proposed guideline, the home ministry will be authorised to implement the CCTV guideline in cooperation with CCTV owners,” he added.
The proposed guideline is likely to be placed before the Cabinet meeting to inform the matter to all.
Halim said law enforcement agencies, especially the police, were encouraging people to install CCTVs at their respective places to ensure security.
Sources in the PMO and police headquarters said the government has directed the authorities concerned, especially city corporations, metropolitan polices, district and upazila administrations, to install CCTVs in their respective areas to curb terror activities. After receiving the instruction, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner has advised residents to install CCTVs to ensure security.

 

CCTV guideline on the cards

The government is going to prepare a Closed-circuit television (CCTV) guideline to monitor such surveillance systems installed and operated by public and private organisations in the country. The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) recently held a meeting with the ministries concerned, agencies and other stakeholders to prepare the open guideline following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas instructions in this regard. The guideline would enable government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, to easily obtain CCTV footage from the private and public sources concerned to curb terrorist activities. Director general of PMO, Md Abdul Halim, told The Independent that they will prepare a draft guideline by this month and then forward it to the higher ups for further action. After preparing the guideline, permission should be taken from the authorities concerned to install and operate CCTVs at their respective areas so that government agencies could obtain CCTV footage, whenever required, he said. The proposed guideline would not control CCTV owners, but it will help to install a standard device in the respective places and also help law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain the required footage legally, he added. Under the proposed guideline, a high-powered taskforce, headed by a senior home ministry official and comprising officials from the telecommunications ministry, law enforcement and the intelligence agencies, would be formed, Halim said. According to the proposed guideline, the home ministry will be authorised to implement the CCTV guideline in cooperation with CCTV owners, he added. The proposed guideline is likely to be placed before the Cabinet meeting to inform the matter to all. Halim said law enforcement agencies, especially the police, were encouraging people to install CCTVs at their respective places to ensure security. Sources in the PMO and police headquarters said the government has directed the authorities concerned, especially city corporations, metropolitan polices, district and upazila administrations, to install CCTVs in their respective areas to curb terror activities. After receiving the instruction, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner has advised residents to install CCTVs to ensure security.