RAB vehicles outside the Election Commission building on 15 November 2023. File Photo: TBS
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RAB vehicles outside the Election Commission building on 15 November 2023. File Photo: TBS
The government has approved the procurement of 163 vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at a cost of Tk122.27 crore, aimed at enhancing the force’s operational capacity.
The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held today (7 May) at the Secretariat, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The proposal was placed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Under the procurement plan, the vehicles include 3 jeeps, 100 patrol pickup vans and 60 air-conditioned microbuses. The vehicles will be supplied by state-owned Pragoti Industries Limited.
Officials said each jeep will have a 2,500cc engine and an estimated market price of around Tk1.5 crore. The patrol pickups are priced at about Tk64 lakh each, while each microbus is valued at Tk48 lakh.
The procurement comes despite a circular issued on 5 April by the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance, which suspended the purchase of all types of vehicles.
The cost will be met under the project titled “Enhancement of Operational Capacity of RAB Forces (First Revised)” in the current 2025-26 fiscal year.
Originally approved in 2018 during the Awami League government, the project had an estimated cost of Tk1,034 crore. It was later revised down by Tk207 crore, with its duration extended until 2026, bringing the revised cost to Tk827 crore.
Under the project, a total of 1,570 vehicles and 131 types of equipment were planned for procurement. So far, 809 vehicles and 101 equipment units have already been purchased.
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