Five dedicated industrial police lines proposed
Despite being established in 2010, the Industrial Police is yet to have its own dedicated police line.
Bangladesh Police has proposed establishing five dedicated police lines for its Industrial Police across the country to perform better to maintain law and order in the industrial zones.
Police proposed the home ministry to set up the police lines at Ashulia-Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram and Mymensingh, Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Gazi Jashim Uddin told BSS today (4 July).
After formation of the Industrial Police in 2010, the force is yet to have any dedicated police line. In view of this a proposal has been made to the home ministry to establish the police lines for the specialised force, he said.
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Proposal has been given for allocation of land while Department of Architecture is now preparing the design of the police lines, he said.
The industrial police chief said proposal was given for a full-fledged unit of the force in Khulna as the existing unit, with its two sub-units in Mongla and Jashore, is currently operating from a temporary office in a jute mill.
Jashim Uddin said the Industrial Police has been operating with a group of 3,500 members, which is much lower than the requirement. The organisational manpower of Industrial Police for its nine units is 4,200, he said.
Jashim Uddin said the force currently has four full-fledged units in Ashulia-Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram, while additional units operate in Khulna, Sylhet, Cumilla, and Mymensingh.
Sylhet and Cumilla units of the force are run by superintendent-level officers who were given posting on deputation from other units of the police force. Mymensingh unit is also running understaffed.
Industrial Police Headquarters has been operating from a rented office since its establishment in 2010, he said.
Jashim Uddin stressed the need for a permanent headquarters of the Industrial Police to ensure the force to carry out its responsibilities more smoothly.
He said a new Industrial Police unit at Mirsharai in Chattogram district is expected to begin operations this month after the government allocated 160 police personnel for the unit against our requisition for 1,600 police personnel, he said.
Highlighting the need for expanding the force in the northern region of the country, Jashim Uddin said it's urgently required as authorities often need to respond to labour unrest in some areas, particularly in Rangpur and Nilphamari.
"We have sent a proposal to set up a separate Industrial Police unit in Bogura district. But it's yet to get any positive response from the government," he said.
"We are trying to convince the government about the need for such a unit to tackle labour unrest in the northern region," he added.
Replying to a question about the force's key challenges, Jashim said, "It is very tough to tackle labour unrest in the industrial belts across the country with such low manpower."
According to available statistics, Bangladesh has nearly 6,000 ready-made garment (RMG) factories and other industries, employing more than 40 lakh workers and generating $55–60 billion in annual export earnings.
Established on 31 October 2010, the Industrial Police, a specialised unit of the Bangladesh Police, is entrusted with the task for maintaining law and order in industrial areas, protecting workers and investors, and ensuring a safe, production-friendly environment.
The force was created in response to growing industrial unrest, particularly in the garment sector. Headquartered in Uttara, Dhaka, it now operates across the country's major industrial belts under the Industrial Police Rules, 2017.
