A long-standing shortage of transport in the police force is set to be addressed through a major government initiative to procure 5,830 vehicles at a cost of Tk6,608 crore, aimed at improving mobility and strengthening field operations.
The proposed fleet includes pickup vans, jeeps, buses, ambulances, prison vans, speedboats, riot-control vehicles, armoured vehicles and specialised vehicles suitable for operations in remote and difficult-to-access areas.
The vehicles will be procured under two separate projects. Of the total allocation, Tk4,328 crore has been proposed for the purchase of 4,829 operational vehicles, while Tk2,280.14 crore will be spent on 1,001 specialized vehicles. The projects also include provisions for training police personnel in vehicle operation, repair and maintenance.
The main objective is to strengthen the police force's capacity to combat crime, conduct regular patrols, respond quickly to emergencies and maintain public order.
The two projects were placed for approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting on Wednesday. Following approval, the projects are scheduled to be implemented between October 2026 and June 2029.
Initiative to address police vehicle shortage
According to the home ministry, police provide services across nearly 147,000 square kilometres of the country through 639 administrative police stations. However, the force currently has only 1,237 vehicles to serve these areas, meaning that each police station has fewer than two vehicles on average. Around 64% of the existing vehicles are more than 10 years old.
In addition, 455 police vehicles were burnt across the country during the 2024 student-people uprising, while another 1,074 vehicles were damaged. This further aggravated the shortage.
The ageing vehicles frequently break down during operations, making regular patrols, crime prevention and rapid responses to emergencies increasingly difficult.
Home ministry officials said many police stations have to manage law and order across their entire jurisdictions with just one pickup van. Ensuring an adequate supply of vehicles has therefore become essential. The addition of new vehicles is expected to improve police mobility at the field level and enable the rapid deployment of personnel and equipment when needed.
Asked about the initiative, Mirza Mohammad Ali Reza, joint secretary of the Planning-1 Wing of the Home Ministry of Home Affairs, said two projects had been sent to the Planning Commission to strengthen police capacity.
"A total of 5,830 vehicles will be procured to enhance the operational capacity of the police," he said.
"Many police stations have only one pickup van. How can they maintain law and order with that? How can the police perform their duties without the necessary logistical support?" he added.
4,829 operational vehicles
Under the project titled “Procurement of Operational Vehicles for Capacity Enhancement of Bangladesh Police,” the government has proposed purchasing 4,829 vehicles at an estimated cost of Tk4,328 crore.
Double-cabin pickup vans account for the largest share of the proposed procurement. A total of 2,909 pickups will be purchased at an estimated cost of Tk2,501.74 crore, with each vehicle priced at Tk86 lakh.
The project also includes 400 jeeps with 2,700cc engines for senior police officials at a cost of Tk676 crore. Another 345 jeeps with 2,000cc engines will be procured at an estimated cost of Tk258.75 crore.
In addition, the government plans to purchase 214 microbuses at Tk52 lakh each, 148 non-air-conditioned large buses at the same unit price and 148 air-conditioned minibuses at Tk1.20 crore each. These vehicles will be used for the transportation of police personnel and to support the activities of different units.
The list of operational vehicles also includes 115 prison vans, 100 patrol cars and 50 ambulances.
To strengthen police operations along river routes, the project proposes procuring 100 speedboats at a cost of Tk80 crore.
Focus on specialised vehicles
The second project aims to strengthen the police force's capacity to handle special situations, maintain public order, investigate crimes and conduct operations in remote areas, alongside its regular activities.
Under the project titled “Procurement of Specialised Vehicles for Capacity Enhancement of Bangladesh Police,” 1,001 specialised vehicles will be purchased at an estimated cost of Tk2,280.14 crore.
To deal with situations such as labour unrest in industrial areas, the project proposes purchasing 11 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) at a cost of Tk132 crore.
For maintaining public order and managing potentially volatile gatherings, 20 water cannons, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres, will be procured at a cost of Tk128 crore.
The proposal also includes 20 crowd-control vehicles at a cost of Tk220 crore and 15 SWAT vans at Tk187 crore for specialised police units and bomb disposal teams.
Another 100 specialised patrol cars will be purchased at a cost of Tk56 crore to facilitate rapid operations during emergencies.
For the safe transportation of arrested individuals, the project proposes procuring 13 specialised vans at a cost of Tk43 crore. In addition, 55 prison vans will be purchased at Tk33 crore to transport detainees between police stations, courts and prisons.
To strengthen patrols and operations in remote and difficult-to-access areas, the project includes 50 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and 100 hill motorcycles for use in hilly regions.
Another 200 high-speed motorcycles will be procured at an estimated cost of Tk160 crore.
The project also includes 50 utility terrain vehicles at a cost of Tk55 crore to transport police-trained dogs.
For intelligence operations and field-level information gathering, six mobile surveillance vehicles will be purchased at a cost of Tk114 crore.
To strengthen police operations in riverine and coastal areas, 15 quick-response boats or speedboats will be procured at a cost of Tk150 crore. Another 15 rescue boats will be purchased to help rescue people stranded in water or involved in accidents.
The proposed specialised fleet also includes 105 commander's suburban vehicles for the transportation of field-level unit commanders, 80 freezer vans for transporting bodies and 80 small deployment utility vehicles for police personnel deployed during elections, religious festivals and public gatherings.
In addition, 10 specialised vehicles will be procured to transport horses used in police ceremonial activities and training.
Training in vehicle operation and maintenance
The two projects do not focus solely on purchasing vehicles. They also place emphasis on ensuring their proper operation, repair and maintenance through specialised training for police personnel.
Under the operational vehicles project, 650 personnel will receive training in light vehicle driving and mechanics, while 300 will be trained in heavy vehicle driving and mechanics. Another 50 personnel will receive training in vehicle repair.
Under the specialised vehicles project, 910 personnel will receive training in driving and mechanics, while another 50 will receive specialised mechanical training.
The operational vehicles project also proposes allocating Tk1.5 crore for purchasing equipment and machinery required for vehicle maintenance and repair.
Home Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury told reporters that some specialised vehicles were also being procured for police personnel who would participate in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He said the United Nations would reimburse the expenditure incurred for those vehicles at a later stage.
Towards a modern and service-oriented police force
Officials concerned said rapid communication, necessary equipment and appropriate vehicles for different situations were essential to modern policing.
With specialised vehicles, police will be better equipped to overcome the limitations of conventional patrol cars and respond more quickly to emergencies in remote areas and along river routes.
The use of mobile command centres to coordinate the activities of different field units, along with specialised vehicles for crime-scene inspections, is also expected to make investigations more efficient.
The addition of rescue boats will further strengthen the police force's ability to assist people during floods, waterway accidents and other emergencies.
Officials expect the initiative to significantly reduce the police force's vehicle shortage once the projects are implemented. This, in turn, is expected to improve police services across the country, strengthen crime prevention, ensure faster responses to emergencies and enhance public safety.