Police to launch new wing today for VVIPs' security

A new police wing, Special Security and Protection Battalion (SPBN), will be launched today to ensure security to the prime minister, president and foreign guests of the same status.
The SPBN will have two battalions comprising 1,400 personnel headed by a deputy inspector general and equipped with sophisticated arms and specialised training to cope with instant threats, said sources in Bangladesh Police Headquarters.
Alongside Special Security Force, President Guard Regiment, Special Branch and National Security Intelligence, the SPBN will discharge duties with units like quick response team, dog squad, bomb disposal unit, intelligence and surveillance and heavily armed group.
The wing was formed on December 26, 2011 upon approval from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said SPBN Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Yousuf Ali.
With sophisticated arms which its mother organisation lacks, the SPBN will build foolproof outer cordon surrounding spots the prime minister, president and foreign guests of VVIP status visit, he added.
Besides, the SPBN will also be deployed to put regular cordon around the Prime Minister's Office, Gono Bhaban, Bangabhaban and structures where the prime minister, president and foreign VVIPs stay, he added.
“At present, personnel from different districts and units are brought to put up the outer cordon,” said a high official in Bangladesh Police Headquarters.
“This seemed a bit uncoordinated as such personnel are usually not aware of local security threats and infrastructures of spots which VVIPs visit,” he said.
He added that the SPBN personnel would be deployed well ahead of scheduled visits so that they can know everything concerned with ensuring security during the visits.
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir is scheduled to inaugurate the wing through a function in the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
Now 642 personnel have been deployed in the SPBN while 758 posts of different ranks remain vacant.
The deputy inspector general's office of the SPBN has been temporarily housed at Mohammadpur in the capital, and it will be later shifted to Mohakhali, said the SPBN sources.