Home ministry proposes Tk2,281cr to buy 1,001 specialised vehicles for police
Bangladesh Police Seek Major Fleet Upgrade to Expand Operational Reach
Bdbusinessdaily.com – The Ministry of Home Affairs has put forward a plan to purchase 1,001 specialised vehicles for Bangladesh Police, seeking an estimated Tk2,281 crore in government funding to strengthen mobility, emergency response and operational support across the country.
The proposal is now with the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission for approval. A Project Evaluation Committee meeting on the plan took place at the commission on 15 October.
If approved, the project would run from October 2026 through June 2029. The full amount would be financed by the government over three fiscal years, with Tk447.66 crore allocated for 2026-27, Tk916.76 crore for 2027-28 and Tk916.61 crore for 2028-29.
Vehicles for Security, Patrols and Emergency Response
The proposed fleet covers a wide range of policing needs, from crowd management and intelligence work to transport, rescue and access to difficult terrain. The package includes 11 armoured personnel carriers, 20 water cannons, 20 crowd-control vehicles and 15 SWAT vans.
Bangladesh Police also plans to acquire 100 specialised patrol cars, 13 specialised vans, 55 prison vans and 200 motorcycles. These additions are intended to supplement routine field operations while giving police units more suitable transport for specific assignments.
Remote and challenging areas are a prominent part of the proposal. It includes 50 utility terrain vehicles for moving trained police dogs, 50 all-terrain vehicles for patrol and operational duties in hard-to-reach locations, and another 100 motorcycles designed for hilly regions.
Six mobile surveillance vehicles have also been proposed for intelligence activity and collection of information at field level. Such units could give police a mobile base for observing developments, coordinating personnel and using communications equipment during operations.
Boats, Rescue Equipment and Support Transport
Water-based mobility is another key element of the plan. Police are seeking 15 quick-response boats or speedboats for rapid deployment in coastal, riverine and hilly areas. A further 15 rescue boats would be used to assist people stranded in water or affected by accidents.
The proposal also provides for 105 suburban vehicles for commanders of various police units to use during field travel. It includes 80 small deployment utility vehicles, 10 specialised carriers for horses used in ceremonial programmes and training, and 56 vehicles listed under other requirements.
One of the larger individual support purchases involves 80 freezer vans for transporting bodies, budgeted at Tk96 crore. The vehicles would add dedicated transport capacity for situations where standard police vehicles are not appropriate.
Taken together, the procurement plan is designed as more than a replacement programme for ordinary patrol cars. It seeks vehicles suited to public disorder, major incidents, difficult geography, intelligence activity, transport duties and rescue work.
Replacing an Ageing Fleet
Police Headquarters has said the project could improve efficiency and expand the force’s capacity to respond to public needs. A stronger specialised fleet, it said, would support faster deployment and could contribute to improving law and order.
Senior police officials have described the purchase as an important step in developing a more modern force. They say specialist vehicles can perform functions that regular patrol cars cannot manage as effectively, particularly during emergencies, crime-prevention drives and disturbances involving large crowds.
Specialised transport can also matter where roads, terrain or waterways slow conventional deployment. Faster access to remote locations could allow officers to reach an incident earlier and take control of a situation before it develops further.
Some of the planned vehicles may function as mobile control rooms during operations. That would allow personnel to monitor conditions and direct resources while using communication systems and other technology in the field. Officials also believe improved mobility could help police collect evidence promptly at crime scenes and support efforts to identify suspects.
Additional Inspector General of Police (Development) Sarder Nurul Amin said police had not bought specialised vehicles since 2020, despite needing them for regular duties, riot-control work and United Nations peacekeeping missions.
“The vehicles purchased earlier are all more than 10-15 years old. Normally, a vehicle has a lifespan of eight to 10 years. All our vehicles have become old,” he said.
Amin said damage sustained by many police vehicles during the 2024 mass uprising had added to the need for replacement and new procurement.
“Besides, many of our vehicles were damaged during the 2024 mass uprising. That is why the government has taken this initiative to strengthen police capacity. If the project is approved and implemented, the capacity of the police will increase significantly,” he added.
What Approval Would Mean
The project remains subject to approval, but its proposed scale shows the breadth of the police force’s transport requirements. The list combines protective vehicles, tactical units, conventional field transport, watercraft and specialised support equipment rather than concentrating on a single type of vehicle.
For citizens, the practical aim is quicker access to police services in emergencies, better deployment during disasters or accidents, and greater operational reach in places where normal vehicles may be less effective. The success of the plan, however, would depend not only on procurement but also on timely implementation, maintenance, training and proper use of the new fleet.
With implementation proposed to begin in October 2026, the Planning Commission’s review will determine whether the programme proceeds as planned and whether Bangladesh Police receives the funding needed to begin replacing and expanding its ageing specialised vehicle capacity.
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