Special police unit mulled to combat terrorism, militancy

The police headquarters has sent a proposal to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for formation of a 3,125-member specialised and technology-based police unit to combat militancy and terrorism.
Sources said the proposed unit, National Police Bureau of Counter Terrorism, will have forces having expertise in information technology (IT), modern banking and cyber crime to safeguard the country from terrorist strike, cyber-based attack and high-tech crimes.
The specialised police unit will also work to know in advance about any possible threat on the life of prime minister and other high profile political personalities.
Sources in the police headquarters said a plan has been prepared to recruit 32,031 police personnel in the next three years between 2009 and 2011 in line with the present government's decision. The proposed police unit has been included in the plan.
The recruitment plan was sent to the PMO through the home ministry on June 11 for consideration of the prime minister, the sources added.
The police headquarters initiated the move to form the specialised unit after the prime minister gave a positive nod during her meeting with top police officials in the Police Week in April.
The organogram for the proposed police unit has already been finalised. An official of the rank of inspector general [a post proposed in the draft police ordinance which is awaiting government approval] will be at the helm of the unit.
The proposed activities of the unit include counter intelligence, stopping terror financing, running continuous anti-militancy campaign, terrorist tracking and maintaining a central database. To root out militancy, the bureau will work taking into consideration all elements of the criminal justice administration system.
The proposed police unit pledged in its proposal to work without minimum violation of human rights and other basic rights enshrined in the constitution.
The bureau activities will cover the whole of the country, as it will have a 30-member district attached office headed by an additional superintendent of police at all districts.
Apart from the IG, it will have two additional IGs, four deputy inspector generals (DIGs), 15 additional DIGs, 23 superintendents of police (SPs), 110 additional SPs, 19 senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (senior ASPs), 306 ASPs, 115 inspectors, 720 sub-inspectors/sergeants, 386 ASIs, 128 Nayeks and 1,142 constables.
The police unit will also have medical officer, budget officer, audit officer, accountant and cashier, 11 computer operators, three data entry operators, 66 cook and 69 sweepers from civilians.
Hasanul Haider, assistant inspector general (AIG) of requirement and manpower (R&M), Bangladesh Police told The Daily Star that the necessity of such an unit was felt seriously since the countrywide synchronised bomb attacks on August 17, 2005.
"We have drafted the proposal of the unit after extensively examining the formation and activities of counter-terrorism organisations of different countries," he said, adding that India has such a unit.
He also said they have focused on protection of human rights and intelligence and technology-based policing.
The core values of the proposed police unit have been set as unwavering obedience to the constitution, respect for the dignity of people, accountability to the laws, fairness and institutional integrity and leadership.
As per the organogram, the bureau will have a training wing, a strong internal oversight wing for counter-intelligence of its members, an administration and logistic wing, a plan and coordination wing and a legal and press wing. An additional DIG will lead each wing.
The bureau will function under two divisions- investigations and operation division and terror intelligence and analysis division. An additional IG will lead each division.
Investigation and prosecution wing and field operations wing will be the two wings under the investigations and operation division.
Under the investigation and prosecution wing, there will be six sections--investigation and prosecution, counter terrorism analysis, terror finance and anti-corruption, national threat centre and terrorist tracking, organised and cyber crime and forensic and crime scene analysis sections.
An SP will head the forensic and crime scene section while additional DIGs will lead other sections.
Under the field operations wing, there will be a 30-member district attached office at all districts. An additional SP will lead each district office under the supervision of an additional DIG who will be aided by 15 SPs.
Besides, there will be two more wings under the terror intelligence and analysis division--coordination and external affairs wing and counter intelligence wing.