Bangladesh News Law Enforcement Agencies And Other Forces

[Isa Khan]

The government has decided to hand over 6.5 acres of state-owned land belonging to Latif Bawani Jute Mill in Dhaka's Demra to the Bangladesh Police.

The land will be used to establish the headquarters of the Tourist Police and River Police, as well as a logistics base for Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The decision was approved in principle at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held at the Secretariat today (19 August).

Govt to hand over 6.5 acres of Latif Bawani Jute Mill land to police

A 250-bed hospital, 50-seat medical college, and nursing institute will be set up on 4.8 acres in Kamalapur under a PPP, with United Enterprise investing Tk530 crore.

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1963832958470566246

 

[Isa Khan]

The government is moving to form five new Ansar battalions in response to rising demands for maintaining law and order, ensuring the security of key point installations (KPIs), and assisting law enforcement during the upcoming national elections.

A proposal seeking the creation of 2,125 posts for the new battalions will be placed at the secretaries' committee on administrative development meeting, scheduled for tomorrow (10 September), with Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid in the chair.

Currently, Bangladesh has 42 Ansar battalions — 39 male, two female, and one Ansar Guard battalion.

According to the home ministry, the posts include 20 permanent cadre positions under the revenue sector and 2,105 temporary positions. Each battalion will comprise 425 members.

The public administration and finance ministries have already approved the proposal, while the finance ministry has finalised the pay scale for all positions.

The new battalions will be stationed at strategic locations, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Rangpur, Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar, Dhaka and Chattogram city areas, and the Barishal division.

As per the proposal, the posts will range from five directors and five deputy directors to 1,180 sepoys and five nursing assistants, among others.

2,125 ansar members to be recruited, force to have 5 battalions

Bangladesh to open consulate general in Malaysia’s Johor Bahru

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1970687011637047428

 

[Isa Khan]

The government is planning to establish a paramilitary force under the Home Ministry, led by the Air Force, to strengthen security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and other domestic airports across Bangladesh.

The proposed force, provisionally named the Air Guard of Bangladesh (AGB), will operate in five regional zones nationwide. According to the ministry's proposal, the AGB will initially comprise 7,650 personnel, with 70% drawn from the Air Force, a figure that will later be reduced to 50%.

The total estimated cost for the force is Tk771 crore, and a 12-member committee has already been formed to oversee its establishment. Sources familiar with a meeting held on 18 September told The Business Standard that officials discussed the roles of two designated agencies responsible for airport security and assessed their effectiveness before seeking input from existing forces on the AGB plan.

The primary objective of the AGB will be to ensure airport security and protection, including controlling access points, preventing intrusions, and assisting airport authorities in countering crimes such as murder and terrorism.

The force will also address drone threats, cyberattacks, and safeguard terminals, fuel depots, aircraft on aprons, communication systems, and other critical infrastructure, thereby creating a reliable and secure environment for domestic and foreign airlines, tourists, investors, and labour export. Ensuring the safety of import-export cargo, sustaining international trade and investment flows, and supporting the national economy are also key goals.

In addition, the AGB will focus on preventing terrorist and explosive attacks in line with international standards and ensuring the safety of chemical, biological, and radioactive materials.

The force's operations will be divided into five zones.

The Southwest Zone, covering Jashore and Barishal, and the Northwest Zone, covering Saidpur, Rajshahi, Bogura, and Lalmonirhat, each commanded by a Wing Commander with 700 personnel.

The Central Zone, including Kurmitola Airfield, will have 2,300 personnel. The Northeast Zone, covering Sylhet and Shamshernagar, will have 1,200 personnel, and the Southeast Zone, covering Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, will have 2,400 personnel.

Each of these three zones will be led by a Group Captain. The AGB's headquarters will employ 350 staff.

The plan envisages a three-phase rollout from 2026 to 2032. In the first phase, half of the planned personnel, totalling 2,150 officers, will be deployed at Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet airports.

The cost for this phase is projected at Tk215 crore, which will cover salaries of Tk86 crore, vehicles costing Tk32 crore, fuel and maintenance at Tk9 crore, construction expenses of Tk50 crore, medical care, uniforms and rations amounting to Tk23 crore, and equipment valued at Tk15 crore.

By 2028, personnel deployment in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet will reach 75% of the target, while Rajshahi, Saidpur, Jashore, and Barishal airports will have 50% coverage, at an estimated cost of Tk253 crore. The final phase, to be completed by 2030, will see full deployment at all airports nationwide, with a projected expenditure of Tk303 crore.

The AGB is expected to bring a modern, coordinated approach to airport security, combining Air Force expertise with paramilitary capability to protect passengers, aviation assets, and the nation's economic interests.

Govt plans paramilitary force to strengthen airport security

Three-phase rollout of AGB to secure five airport zones costing Tk771cr

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

The press secretary also clarified that the government has no plans to dismantle the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

“The government is considering reforms to enhance the agency’s focus on transborder and external intelligence,” Shafiqul Alam said.

ICT has no plan to issue warrants against addl defence personnel: Shafiqul

The press secretary also clarified that the government has no plans to dismantle the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

en.prothomalo.com

 

[Isa Khan]

RAB has received SVI Max-3 LAV along with KHAN 4x4 APC

 

[Isa Khan]

The government on Tuesday approved a proposal to procure 17,050 shotguns for Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) in order to replace their old and outdated firearms.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, who chaired the meeting, told reporters that the existing firearms used by Ansar and VDP have become very old, making replacement essential to ensure operational effectiveness.

"We will procure around 17,000 12-bore shotguns for Ansar and VDP as the existing ones have become very old. The price we are getting is cost-effective and we found the purchase to be economically viable, so it has been approved," he said.

He noted that the procurement proposal was evaluated on the basis of competitive pricing.

Responding to a query on whether the purchase has any connection to the upcoming national election, Dr Salehuddin said the procurement is not election-related.

"This has nothing to do with the election. It is not an election issue. Ansar has long been in need of updated shotguns and this procurement was overdue," he stated.

The proposal will now move through detailed scrutiny and procedures under the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP).
According to official sources, the estimated cost of each shotgun has been set at USD 146.

The total expenditure for the procurement is estimated at Tk 35.62 crore.

At a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held on November 9, the proposal to procure 17,050 units of 12-bore shotguns for the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party through the direct purchase method received policy approval.

After inviting proposals under the direct purchase method, four companies submitted bids for supplying the shotguns.

Upon completion of all evaluation procedures and price negotiations, Turkey-based Bay Galatal was recommended as the lowest responsive bidder.

Subsequently, a decision was taken to procure 17,050 units of 12-bore shotguns from the company.

Govt okays procurement of new firearms for Ansar and VDP

The government on Tuesday approved a proposal to procure 17,050 shotguns for Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) in order...

www.justnewsbd.com

https://www.daily-sun.com/index.php/national/840835/govt-to-purchase-17-050-shotguns-from-turkey-for-ansar-personnel

 

[Isa Khan]

Mobile Command Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

 

[Isa Khan]

The government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) as the Special Intervention Force (SIF), Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today.

“The chief adviser has already given his approval. A government order will be issued soon,” he said during a press briefing after a meeting of the law-and-order core committee at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

He added that the force’s uniform would also change.

“A decision has already been taken. You will see SIF members in a new uniform,” the adviser said.

The home adviser said the decision reflected changes in the force’s operational standards over time.

“You have already seen their standard of work. If you compare their standard of work one-and-a-half years ago and now, there is a big change,” he said, adding that the renaming was part of that broader transformation.

The move comes despite long-standing calls from the UN and human rights organisations to abolish Rab, with the government opting for restructuring and rebranding instead.

Rab was formed on 26 March 2004 amid rising militancy and a deterioration in law and order during the BNP-led four-party alliance government.

During the briefing, a reporter cited Transparency International Bangladesh’s warning that failure to control “mobs” could affect the election and referred to survey findings that more than 600 police personnel were attacked in different ways in 2025, asking how polls could be ensured when police themselves were under threat.

The home adviser said TIB had shared its concerns and referred to the police situation between 5 and 8 August and the period afterwards.

He said police morale and efficiency had since increased and that there would be no problem in holding the election.

The adviser also urged reporters to compare the situation after the declaration of the schedule in previous elections with the current security environment.

Over 1800 arrested, 199 weapons recovered in joint forces raid

At the same briefing, Armed Forces Division Director General (Operations and Plans) Brig Gen Mohammad Ali Haidar Siddiqui said the joint forces had recovered 199 weapons and arrested 1,807 people since the election schedule was announced.

He said a total of 106,223 personnel from the three services had been deployed nationwide.

Following the deployment, a major drive was conducted in which forces recovered 107 weapons and 613 rounds of ammunition and arrested 867 people, he added.

Describing the recoveries as encouraging, Mohammad Ali Haidar Siddiqui said members of the forces had now reached every district and upazila and would continue coordinated drives with the district administration, police and other agencies.

Asked about the ownership of the recovered weapons, Haidar said a full breakdown was not immediately available.

However, he said that from weapons that had gone missing from police and Rab, forces had recovered 4,432 so far. In addition, 65 weapons missing from jail authorities and 328 missing licensed weapons had also been recovered.

He further said that 2,906 weapons were recovered in cases involving illegal arms missing from police station storehouses.“In total, 7,731 weapons have been recovered since September,” he said.

Rab to be renamed SIF: Home adviser

Jahangir says new uniforms to reflect the changes in the force's standard of operation post uprising

www.thedailystar.net

 

[Isa Khan]

The government has decided to procure vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) through the direct purchase method without inviting tenders, approving the acquisition of three jeeps, 100 patrol pickup trucks and 60 air-conditioned microbuses from state-owned Pragati Industries Limited.

The decision was given a policy-level approval at a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs held at the Secretariat on Tuesday, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.

The procurement will be carried out under the project titled "Enhancement of Operational Capability of RAB Forces (1st Revised)", aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the elite force by addressing its vehicle shortage.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said the committee approved the proposal to procure the vehicles through the direct purchase method instead of the Open Tender Method (OTM).

Responding to questions on the rationale behind the decision, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani said the government intended to keep public funds within state-owned entities.

“Pragati Industries is the country’s first automobile manufacturing company, and it is a fully state-owned one. That is why we have decided to procure the vehicles from this organization,” he said.

When asked whether the vehicles would be delivered ahead of the upcoming national election, Nasimul Ghani clarified that the approval was not an election-driven one.

“Only policy approval has been given today. The procurement process will take time, and the vehicles will arrive much later, in phases. This is merely a formal decision. After placing the order, Pragati will import the required components from Japan using the allocated funds,” he added.

Sources present at the meeting said the Ministry of Home Affairs placed the proposal for procuring the vehicles directly under the revised RAB capacity enhancement project, which subsequently received policy approval from the committee.

The project was originally approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on November 7, 2018, with an implementation period from December 1, 2018, to January 31, 2026.

The initiative aims to enhance RAB’s effectiveness and modernise its operations by addressing logistical constraints, particularly the shortage of vehicles.

Officials informed the meeting that the vehicles are urgently required in the 2025–26 fiscal year. As procurement through the OTM is time-consuming, the direct purchase method has been proposed under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006, citing state emergency needs.

The move is intended to ensure effective law and order management and maintain operational readiness ahead of the national parliamentary election.

The day’s Economic Affairs Committee meeting approved another proposal in principle to withdraw the project titled "Construction of Multimodal Hub at Dhaka Bimanbandar Railway Station" from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project list.

The proposal was placed by the Ministry of Railways. Following detailed discussions, the committee recommended the proposal for approval in principle.

The project had earlier received in-principle approval at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on October 17, 2018, for implementation under the PPP framework.

However, officials said the identified land was insufficient for the project’s requirements, no transaction adviser was appointed for feasibility studies, and no significant progress had been made, prompting the decision to withdraw it from the PPP list.

The Power and Energy adviser said there were a total of five agenda items in the meeting for discussion.

Among them, one proposal came from the Ministry of Agriculture, one from the Ministry of Home Affairs, one from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and two proposals from the Ministry of Railways.

He said the first proposal was related to providing regular subsidies to farmers affected by damage to potato cultivation. “The proposal has been sent back for further examination to ensure that the subsidy reaches genuine farmers through an appropriate mechanism.”

Besides, a proposal by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to transport gas in LNG form from Bhola via inland waterways for direct supply to industrial establishments under Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC through the Bangladesh Navy was withdrawn from the meeting.

Govt to buy 163 vehicles for RAB directly from Pragati Industries

The government has decided to procure vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) through the direct purchase method without inviting tenders, approving the acquisition of three jeeps, 100 patrol pickup trucks and 60 air-conditioned microbuses from state-owned Pragati...

www.dhakatribune.com