45 CCTV cameras out of order in Barisal city

Around 45 CCTV cameras out of 261 installed by Barisal City Corporation have been dysfunctional for two months as the cables connecting those to the control rooms were stolen.

Earlier, most of the cameras were out of order, said BCC sources.

At a coordination meeting held in the city on June 23, Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) expressed deep concern over security following the theft.

Afterwards, the BCC authorities fixed 216 cameras.

Omor Faruk, an executive engineer of BCC, said they are working to set new cables to connect the rest of the CCTV cameras to the monitors.

Such a camera has become one of the key elements to check crimes, said Golam Rouf Khan, a deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police.

But, the current condition of cameras increased security concern, said Golam Rouf.

HM Ruhul Amin, commissioner of BMP, said they sent a letter to the BCC authorities to hand over the authority to control the CCTVs as they are not capable to do so.

BCC Mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal said they would hand over the responsibility to the BMP after all the cameras are fixed.

BCC set up 261 CCTV cameras to help ensure public safety, control traffic and monitor the city's major points and roads of total 30 wards on April 13, 2013 at cost of Tk 2.59 crore.