The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched a plan to modernize and strengthen security at the Bangladesh Secretariat by replacing non-functional scanners and broken CCTV cameras with advanced technology-based infrastructure.
Officials said the entire security system is being reorganized to control unrestricted access, ensure round-the-clock surveillance, and prevent the entry of illegal goods or hazardous devices.
According to relevant sources, advanced scanning technology will be deployed to detect drugs and weapons in vehicles entering the Secretariat under the new system. AI-based modern CCTV cameras will also be installed at key facilities to help identify suspicious individuals and monitor their movements.
As part of the security upgrade, major changes are being introduced to the pass system for entry into the Secretariat. Under the new rules, visitor passes will remain valid only for a specified period. An official will be able to issue a pass for a visitor for only a few hours, if necessary, a move expected to reduce uncontrolled access and improve monitoring.
Sources said 99 state-of-the-art AI-powered cameras will be installed at various important points of the Secretariat. The cameras will provide round-the-clock monitoring, identify suspicious activities, and support rapid response. Officials said footage will be stored in a central server for analysis, enabling authorities to track individuals if repeated suspicious activity is detected and bring them under surveillance by law enforcement agencies if required.
Authorities have already installed AI-powered baggage scanners and archway scanners at the four entry gates of the Secretariat. These systems are designed to enable fast and accurate screening of individuals and their belongings at entry points, with the capability to detect drugs and small weapons.
Initiatives have also been taken to install advanced vehicle scanners at vehicle entry points. Officials said the scanners will allow quick screening of incoming vehicles, occupants, and transported items. If any suspicious or unauthorized object is detected, an alarm will be triggered automatically and entry will be restricted immediately.
As part of the broader security measures, RFID technology has been introduced for vehicle management. Vehicles approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs have been fitted with RFID stickers, which will be automatically identified by long-range RFID readers to control access. Officials said the system is intended to strengthen overall security risk management.
Modern wireless communication sets have also been purchased to ensure coordination and rapid communication among law enforcement personnel deployed at the Secretariat.
The secretariat’s access control system is also being digitized, with plans to introduce online registration for visitors, national ID verification, biometric activation, and temporary QR code-based passes. Officials said the system will allow authorities to monitor the frequency of visits by individuals and identify patterns of repeated access, which may trigger alerts for review.
Under the revised system, visitor movement will be managed through time-based entry and exit permissions. An official may grant entry permission for as little as one hour if necessary. Automated alerts will be sent to visitors’ mobile phones before the expiry of their allotted time.
A senior Ministry of Home Affairs official told Dhaka Tribune that low-quality scanners and ineffective CCTV systems previously provided only a nominal level of security at the administrative hub. He said the new initiative would replace outdated infrastructure with international-standard technology to ensure full coverage of all entry points, vehicles, and internal movement.
The official added that under the upgraded system, scanners will immediately detect weapons and drugs in vehicles entering the Secretariat. He said the scanners are currently capable of detecting drugs above 500 milliliters, with efforts underway to reduce the detection threshold to as low as 10 grams.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday afternoon, Joint Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Md Jasim Uddin said the government is giving the highest priority to security at the Secretariat.
He said AI-powered modern baggage scanners will be installed at the four gates of the Secretariat to detect drugs and weapons in vehicles, while AI-based CCTV cameras will be installed at key facilities to identify suspicious individuals and monitor movement.
He added that digital visitor passes and digital entry systems will be introduced from June. According to him, outdated and ineffective equipment used for years is being replaced with international-standard technology to ensure constant surveillance of every entry, vehicle, and internal movement within the Secretariat.
Security analyst Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune that secretariats in democratic countries maintain designated security zones and Bangladesh also needs such a system.
He said the move to introduce technology-based security measures was a positive initiative, noting that many visitors currently move around the Secretariat unnecessarily and that this should be controlled.
He, however, cautioned that proper monitoring would be required after installation of the technology. He also stressed that ordinary citizens should not face unnecessary harassment and that those with legitimate reasons to visit the Secretariat must still be able to access it smoothly.
