Anti-terrorism Unit of the police is hobbled by lack of proper equipment and manpower. Despite being in operation for over a year, the unit has not become fully functional as yet.
It’s believed that the anti-terrorism unit is depending on other police units. Meanwhile, police officials have said that tenders have been called to purchase necessary equipment.
An official of the unit told Bangla Tribune: “the members of the anti- terrorism section are ready but due to lack of right equipment, operations cannot be carried out independently.”
The section is housed in House 35, B Block of Baridhara. An official says that equipment is also being bought for the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, NTMC.
The official also informed that all members of the special unit have been trained in the USA and India.
The Anti-Terrorism Unit will only work with extremists and extremism.
The total number of people in the manpower structure is 581 with 450 already given appointment. Headed by one additional IG, the department has already taken two additional DIGs, five SPs and ten additional SPs.
Seventy five inspectors have been given post while the appointment of sub-inspectors is going on.
Meanwhile, Additional IG of the equipment sector of the police headquarters, Tanvir Momtaz, says: “purchasing of high tech equipment is going on for all sections of the police force.”
In 2016, a new police unit called Counter Terrorism and Trans national Crime, CTTC, was formed, which can only go to operations outside Dhaka by permission from the IGP.
Therefore, to dispense with all the formalities, the anti-terrorism unit will be formed, said sources adding: “the CTTC will also work under the new unit.”
Head of anti-terrorism unity, additional IGP, Md. Shafiqul Islam, told Bangla Tribune: “the equipment will be increased as per the expansion of the work area.”
Recently, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan informed the parliament: “the government has taken a zero tolerance policy towards extremists and radicalism with the law enforcers working tirelessly.”
To uproot extremism, new plans will also be adopted in the future, assured the home minister.