Bangladesh government scales back police escort privileges for ministers to optimize resources
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The Bangladesh government has significantly streamlined its high-profile security protocols, revoking police escort privileges for 18 cabinet ministers in a move aimed at curbing fuel consumption and optimizing administrative efficiency. Following directives from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has reduced the number of ministerial escorts, ensuring that only six ministers and one advisor with ministerial rank retain the specialized police vehicle coverage while traveling in the capital.
The shift reflects a broader policy shift toward downsizing government protocols and addressing resource constraints within the police force. Officials noted that the decision mirrors a precedent set by the Prime Minister herself, who has previously reduced her own security detail to minimize the footprint of her motorcade. Under the new arrangement, the number of police personnel assigned to ministerial escorts has dropped from approximately 120 to just 30 or 35, while the fleet of escort vehicles has been reduced from 25 to seven.
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The individuals retaining their escort privileges include key cabinet members such as Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed, and Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, among others. Meanwhile, ministers who saw their escort privileges withdrawn include senior officials spanning the ministries of Law, Education, Health, and Information, among others. Despite the withdrawal of the road escort, the government clarified that these ministers will continue to be provided with personal armed security (gunmen) and residential security guards.
Historically, police escorts in Dhaka—which consist of a vehicle accompanied by a five-member team—are assigned to facilitate the safe and efficient transit of VVIPs through dense urban traffic. The DMP’s Protection Division maintains that these allocations are based on security risk assessments rather than entitlement. Currently, this security infrastructure remains in place for other high-ranking officials, including the Acting President, the Prime Minister, former heads of state, the Chief Justice, and the Chief Election Commissioner.
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Internal reports indicate that the DMP has faced significant operational strain due to a shortage of vehicles and personnel, often forcing security teams to rotate rapidly between different ministers to meet demand. By reallocating the 90 personnel and 18 vehicles liberated by this policy change, the department aims to alleviate the physical and mental workload of its officers while bolstering the broader security presence across the city.
Deputy Commissioner of the DMP’s Protection Division, Md. Shahriar Alam, affirmed that providing security for the state’s key figures remains a fundamental mandate of the police. He emphasized that the adjustment is a pragmatic response to existing logistical challenges, noting that once these resource shortages are mitigated, the department will be better positioned to provide more seamless security coverage.
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