Bangladesh Police on Thursday launched a new unit named Special Security and Protection Battalion (SPBn) that would provide security to the “very very important persons.”
There are already two other security forces in the country, namely the Special Security Force (SSF) and the President Guard Regiment (PGR), assigned with the same task.
While the SSF and PGR are formed with personnel from all the forces including Bangladesh Army, navy, air force, coastguard, National Security Intelligence, police, Border Guard Bangladesh and Ansar, the newly formed SPBn comprises of 1,400 members from only Bangladesh Police.
Besides, the Protection and Protocol Department of police is already providing to the VVIPs and protection to important establishments.
Headed by a deputy inspector general of police, SPBn is divided into two sections to be led by two superintendents of police.
The headquarters of the newly formed force is located in the capital’s Mohammadpur.
The SPBn personnel would discharge their duties in coordination with the SSF and PGR and therefore there was no chance of any problem arising, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan MahmoodKhandker told the Dhaka Tribune.
When asked about the necessity of the new force with the SSF and PGR already in place, the IGP said: “There is no question of insufficiency. The specialised unit has been formed given the changed situation and considering the realities.”
The IGP also said: “Apart from the president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament,security and protection will be provided to everybody else, including foreigners, if the government considers them as VVIPs.”
When contacted, Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General MdMainul Islam did not make any comment on the formation of the SPBn.
However, speaking at the inauguration of SPBn, Major General (Retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddiqi, defence adviser to the prime minister, welcomed the new unit saying, “In the age of globalisation, specialised forces are necessary.”
Home Minister MohiuddinKhanAlamgir inaugurated the SPBn as the chief guest in the presence of State Minister for Home ShahsulHuqTuku, senior home secretary and the IGP.
At the programme, when journalists asked whether engaging 1,400 members in the new force would add to the manpower crisis and hamper normal policing, the IGP said: “The formation of the SPBn was a demand of time and was a logical decision.”
IGP Hassan MahmoodKhandker also said the new force would have different tasks than the existing Protection and Protocol Department of police.
SSF
The SSF was formed for close protection of VVIPs in 1986 during HM Ershad’s regime. Initially it was called the Presidential Security Force and was later renamed as SSF in 1997.
The force is generally commanded by an army officer of the rank of Major General or Brigadier General.
Headquartered at the Prime Minister’s Office, SSF is divided into four bureaus: operation and protection, intelligence, logistics and training.
The force is tasked with providing security to the president, prime minister and any person designated as a VVIP.
PGR
The PGR was formed in 1974 by late President Ziaur Rahman as the Presidential Security Force. It was given its current name in 1982 by HM Ershad’s government.
The PGR is led by the military secretary to the president, who is an army officer of the Brigadier General rank. Its strength is estimated to be more than a brigade and it is headquartered in the Dhaka Cantonment.
The regiment is responsible for providing security to the president of Bangladesh and his/her immediate family in addition to performing intelligence gathering duties.
The PGR also provides security to the prime minister and visiting foreign dignitaries.
