The Election Commission (EC) has instructed all educational institutions designated as polling centres for the 13th national election and the referendum, scheduled to be held on February 12, to ensure that their existing CCTV cameras remain operational.

The commission issued a letter in this regard.

The directive, signed by Election Commission Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain, has been sent to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and the Local Government Division.

According to the EC's instructions, polling centres must be made suitable for voters' movement ahead of polling day, and necessary repairs to the centres' infrastructure must be carried out.

Besides, electricity connections must be provided to centres that currently lack power supply, and existing CCTV systems at polling centres must be kept operational.

The directive further says that at centres without CCTV coverage, the managing committees or authorities should be requested to make arrangements for CCTV installation at least for polling day.

In addition, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and upazila nirbahi officers must personally inspect the polling centres.

Special arrangements must also be made to facilitate voting by persons with disabilities, the elderly and pregnant women. the letter said.