Nearly one-fifth of surveillance equipment at Dhaka University has fallen into disrepair, with 28 damaged IP cameras out of 158 installed across campus under ICT Cell supervision.
Security concerns deepen as university admits using Chinese-manufactured Hikvision and Dahua cameras, brands banned by United States federal agencies since 2019 over national security risks and surveillance abuse allegations.
Dr Mosaddek Hossain Kamal Tusher, Director of ICT Cell, revealed ongoing expansion plans despite current equipment failures. "We are currently in process of tendering for CCTV coverage from Shahidullah Hall to Shahbagh, and from Annex to Shaheed Minar area through Fuller Road to Palashi," he told Daily Observer.
He added, "I can't confirm exactly how many new cameras will be installed at this point, but entire university will be covered." However, procurement delays have already set project back two months after previous tender cancellation.
Strategic camera placement reveals concerning patterns across politically sensitive areas.
According to ICT cell, from Arch Gate (Mukti O Ganatantra Toran) to Doel Chattar, 18 cameras monitor key protest areas, six covering Arch Gate to TSC, another six from TSC to Russel Tower, three monitoring Shaheed Minar to Dhaka Medical and three more from Dhaka Medical to Doel Chattar.
They informed that Mall Chattar commands highest concentration with 54 cameras, whilst politically active zones around Aparajeyo Bangla, DUCSU, Madhur Canteen, and Faculty of Social Sciences are watched by 18 cameras only.
Student privacy advocates raise alarms over surveillance concentration in areas traditionally associated with student activism and free expression.
Political student organizations fear constant monitoring of TSC and Shaheed Minar undermines academic openness, transforming campus environment from intellectual freedom to perpetual observation.
Administrative Building maintains seven cameras, Senate and Mokarram Buildings each have five, whilst July 36 Memorial Museum and DUCSU building rely on merely three cameras, highlighting inconsistent security prioritisation.
International sanctions against chosen camera manufacturers may compound security concerns.
According to an anonymous US expatriate student, US National Defense Authorization Act banned Hikvision and Dahua from federal agencies in 2019, followed by Department of Commerce adding both companies to Entity List, prohibiting component purchases from American firms without government approval.
He also informed that Federal Communications Commission imposed comprehensive ban on new Hikvision and Dahua equipment in November 2022, citing national security risks and stopping authorization reviews under 2021 Secure Equipment Act.
Technical vulnerabilities plague both brands according to Internet Protocol Video Market and Industrial Control Systems advisory. Users report backdoor vulnerabilities, hardcoded credentials, firmware glitches, poor third-party compatibility, and unintuitive interfaces.
Customer support limitations particularly affect developing regions, whilst concerns persist over unauthorized data transmission and geopolitical implications.
Professor Tusher acknowledged mixed equipment sourcing without quality standardisation. "Cameras are not all of same model. Whichever provider got job at time supplied them. However, notably, they include Hikvision and Dahua. We cannot say yet which brand new cameras will be."
Only two cameras monitor Curzon Hall gate through Faculty of Biological Sciences, whilst six cameras cover Swadhinata Bhaskorjo area.
Despite extensive surveillance network, students question administrative responsiveness to reported incidents in monitored zones.
Areas known for inappropriate behaviour, outsider presence, late-night bike racing and narcotics use continue experiencing problems despite camera coverage.
Students and experts argue surveillance appears more symbolic than functional, lacking clear security rationale or transparent oversight policies governing data access and storage protocols.
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