Cumilla City’s Tk 2cr CCTV cameras fall blind

Cumilla City Corporation building

Cumilla, July 28 - When the high-tech CCTV cameras were installed across Cumilla city in late 2021, they arrived with a promise of safety, security and smarter streets.

Mounted at bustling intersections and shadowy corners, the cameras were the city’s new digital guardians, boasting artificial intelligence, facial recognition and round-the-clock vigilance. Now, nearly three years later, those mechanical eyes have all but gone dark.

Today, many of Cumilla’s 90 surveillance cameras sit idle -- some cloaked in layers of dust, others with drooping wires or skewed angles, silently recording nothing of use.

For a project that cost taxpayers over Tk 2 crore, it is a disheartening sight.

They were supposed to change the way Cumilla fought crime and managed traffic. Instead, they have become yet another symbol of good intentions gone unattended.

A City Watched, But Briefly

The Cumilla City Corporation (CuCC) had envisioned a smart surveillance system capable of not just recording footage, but recognising faces, scanning number plates and helping police respond swiftly to crimes.

Locations like Fouzderhat Mor, Eidgah Char Rasta, Chawkbazar, Madina Bus Stand, Moynamoti Medical College Road and Kandirpar were handpicked for their strategic importance.

The system initially showed promise, but signs of neglect soon became evident. Within months, cameras stopped rotating, night vision failed and most units remained non-functional for over a year.

Dysfunctional Cameras

Residents speak with a mixture of resignation and frustration. “Most cameras are out of order, and no one is maintaining them. Still, the contractor continues to draw bills regularly. It’s become a joke,” said one local man, gesturing toward a camera pole near Tomchom Bridge.

The project was implemented by Nice Power IT Solution Ltd, a firm owned by former Cumilla-6 MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar.

The company reportedly began work in 2018 through a quotation-based process, a method that insiders allege violated public procurement norms. While installation wrapped up in 2020, cracks in maintenance appeared almost immediately.

Even the camera at the main gate of CuCC’s own building has gone dark.

Tanvir Alam Abhi, who works at a private bank, shared his concern, “Mugging and eve-teasing have increased in the city. If these cameras had been functional, at least some incidents could have been prevented.”

When Surveillance Fails

The failure of Cumilla’s camera network is not just a technical issue--it’s a breakdown in public trust. “The city has seen a rise in theft and mugging. CCTV is the only way to identify criminals,” said Kazi Enamul Haque Faruk, President of the Cumilla Press Club, adding, “The 90 cameras are now virtually useless. I hope the city corporation will act swiftly.”

For many, the most painful part is the sense of potential lost. These weren’t outdated devices. They had modern features: AI algorithms, plate recognition, and night vision. But technology, no matter how advanced, means little without maintenance.

Promises of Repair

Officials at CuCC admit the lapse but say work is now underway to fix it. Mohammad Khairul Bashar, the city corporation’s IT officer, confirmed that maintenance has recently resumed under a new contractor. “About 50 cameras have been restored so far. The rest are under repair. The new contractor will be responsible for routine maintenance going forward,” he said.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of CuCC, Mohammad Mamun, added: “Work is being done to replace the old contractor and fix the faulty cameras. All cameras will be fully operational soon.”

Still, many residents remain sceptical. It’s not the first time they’ve heard such reassurances.

A City in Waiting

At night, when the city quiets down, dark alleys and busy crossings go unwatched. With no digital eyes keeping vigil, residents rely on instinct and luck.

The Tk 2 crore that once promised a safer Cumilla now serves as a reminder: no system, however smart, can work without responsibility. “The cameras were installed to watch over us. Now, it’s us watching them—waiting for them to come back to life,” said a local resident. - UNB