Bangladesh Police has proposed renaming and restructuring its two specialised counterterrorism units, the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, under a unified identity, the Special Security Unit (SSU), as part of an organisational overhaul to strengthen the country's security framework.
The proposal, submitted by Police Headquarters, is currently under consideration by the government.
According to official documents, Police Headquarters sent a proposal to the Home Ministry on June 7 seeking approval to rename the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) as the Special Security Unit (SSU).
In a separate letter issued on June 8, Police Headquarters instructed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner to take the necessary steps to rename the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit as the Special Security Unit-DMP (SSU-DMP).
AHM Shahadat Hossain, assistant inspector general (Media) at Police Headquarters, told the Dhaka Tribune that the restructuring has been proposed to enhance the operational effectiveness of the specialised units while retaining their core security functions.
"The proposal has been sent to the Home Ministry and is now under consideration," he said.
The proposal, signed on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by an officer of Additional Deputy Inspector General rank, says the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), the widespread use of the internet and the faster flow of information have fundamentally changed the nature of security threats, making it necessary to modernise existing security mechanisms.
It says extremist and militant groups are increasingly using sophisticated technologies and tactics to plan, finance and execute attacks aimed at undermining national security and social stability.
The proposal also says such groups exploit distorted interpretations of religion to recruit economically vulnerable people, spread misinformation and rumours through online platforms to incite communal violence and social unrest, and radicalise young people through educational institutions and digital platforms before recruiting them into covert "sleeper cells."
To address these evolving threats, Police Headquarters has proposed transforming the ATU into the Special Security Unit (SSU).
Under the proposed structure, the unit's mandate would extend beyond counterterrorism to include protecting internal security, national stability and public safety.
The proposal says adopting the name Special Security Unit would also facilitate closer cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, as the designation is widely recognised internationally, while improving coordination with other domestic security organisations.
The Anti-Terrorism Unit was established following the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack in Dhaka and formally began operations on December 7, 2017. Since then, it has served as Bangladesh's specialised nationwide counterterrorism force.