The move comes after prime minister recently decided to reduce the size of his own security convoy as part of broader government efforts to cut state expenditure.
The committee recommended two proposals to speed procurement and road construction. Photo: Collected
“>
The committee recommended two proposals to speed procurement and road construction. Photo: Collected
The government has withdrawn special police protection escorts for 18 cabinet ministers as part of an austerity drive aimed at reducing public expenditure, conserving fuel and easing pressure on the police force amid persistent shortages of personnel and vehicles.
However, the facility has been retained for six senior ministers and one adviser to the prime minister, considering the importance of their responsibilities.
The move comes after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently decided to reduce the size of his own security convoy as part of broader government efforts to cut state expenditure.
Several personal officials of ministers and senior officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the development to The Business Standard, saying the decision has been implemented in phases since last week.
Mohammad Nazmul Huda, assistant private secretary to the minister of environment, forests and climate change, told this newspaper yesterday that the government issued the order last week and it took effect immediately.
“Now the minister only has a gunman for security,” he said.
Government sources said that after the current administration took office on 17 February, most ministers were provided with special police escorts while travelling within Dhaka. The cabinet currently consists of 24 full ministers.
Although the escort teams have been withdrawn, ministers will continue to receive security under existing government rules, including personal gunmen, house guards and special police protection during official visits outside the capital.
Officials familiar with the matter said the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed Police Headquarters to reduce spending on VIP security following the prime minister’s directive.
They added that longstanding shortages of police personnel and operational vehicles also influenced the decision.
A standard ministerial escort team typically comprises one sub-inspector, four constables and a police pickup vehicle. The government bears the salaries, allowances and fuel costs of the team.
However, the state ministers do not get the facility.
The ministers who will continue to receive escorts are Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood; Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain; Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman; and the prime minister’s adviser on finance and planning, Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.
Those escorts withdrawn include Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan; Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury; Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu; Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita); Industries, Textiles, Jute and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir; Labour and Employment, and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury; Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan; Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid; Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee; Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman; Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher; Education, Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon; Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain; Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam; and Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam.
According to DMP data, 1,691 police personnel are currently assigned to provide security for 49 ministers, state ministers, and other important individuals in Dhaka, against a requirement of 2,575, resulting in a shortfall of nearly 900 officers.
Police officials said the manpower shortage has forced many officers to work extended hours, increasing their physical and mental workload.
Several vehicles assigned to VIP protection units were destroyed during attacks on police stations and other police facilities during the July uprising. As a result, police now often have to use a single vehicle to provide security for multiple VIPs, making it increasingly difficult to maintain protection services with limited manpower and resources.
About The Author
