Police escorts withdrawn for 18 ministers

As part of efforts to reduce state expenditure, save fuel, and deploy the police's limited manpower and vehicles to field-level law enforcement duties, the government has withdrawn special police escorts allocated to 18 ministers in the capital. As a result, these ministers, who have been moving around with police protection since taking oath, will now travel in Dhaka without escorts. However, considering the sensitivity of their responsibilities, six ministers and one advisor to the Prime Minister have retained this facility. According to relevant sources, this number may be further reduced in the future based on necessity.

Multiple sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Police Headquarters, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have confirmed that following the Prime Minister's directive and instructions from the Home Minister, the decision has been implemented in phases since last week. Earlier, the Prime Minister himself had decided to downsize his own security convoy, and two protocol vehicles belonging to the police were withdrawn from PM's fleet.

DMP officials explained that the police security vehicles positioned ahead of ministers' motorcades in the capital are referred to as "escort" or "protection" vehicles. Each escort vehicle is manned by a five-member police team. With the new decision withdrawing escorts from 18 ministers, nearly 90 police personnel are being relieved from escort duties.

Previously, around 120 police personnel were assigned to ministers' escorts; that number has now come down to 30–35. Simultaneously, the number of vehicles used in escorts has been cut from 25 to seven. The relieved manpower and vehicles will be redirected to the police's regular law enforcement operations.

Those who have lost escort facilities

The escort facility has been withdrawn from the following ministers: Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal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; Industries, Textiles, Jute and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir; Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque; Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan; Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid; Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie; 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. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon; Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain; Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam; and Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam.
On the other hand, the following seven individuals have retained police escort facilities: Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman; Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud; Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain; and the Prime Minister's Planning Advisor Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.

However, no official statement has been issued by the government or police regarding what security assessment or criteria were used to keep these seven individuals under this facility.

Decision based on security assessment

Sources concerned say the decision was made based on necessary security assessments. Depending on the situation in the future, escorts may also be reduced from among these seven portfolios. Alongside reducing state expenditure and fuel costs, the long-standing shortage of police vehicles and the government's policy of downsizing VIP protocol convoys have also played a role in this decision. Officials also believe the initiative will have a positive impact on reducing traffic congestion in the capital.

Md. Shahriar Alam, Deputy Commissioner of the DMP's Protection Division, told Agamir Samay that reducing ministers' escorts will lower fuel costs. At the same time, pressure on vehicles and manpower will decrease. This will allow additional personnel and vehicles to be deployed for regular police operations in the capital.

Government sources have confirmed that although escort facilities have been withdrawn in the capital, according to government rules, ministers will continue to receive personal gunmen, house guards at their official residences, and special police security as needed during official trips outside Dhaka.