The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) is waiting to have its operational guideline approved. Once done, work will begin to have offices established all over the country.
The process of appointing people is almost done. The ATU also carried out some anti-militancy drives and was given a SWAT team.
On Jul 27, members of the ATU carried out a mission in a house in Roopnagar area of Mirpur.
Five members of a family were arrested for having links to militancy. When ATU members went and knocked at the door, the militants attacked them with sharp weapons.
The arrested are: Ahmed Ali, 57, his wife Salma Ahmed, 50, sons Zakaria, 35 and Kibria, 30 and daughter Asma Ferdous Dipa, 25.
The ATU began operation in 2018 and 581 posts have been created in the unit, to be overseen by an additional IG.
The current office of the unit is at house number 35, of B block in Baridhara and the permanent one will be near Purbachal.
As militants became active from 2013, the Counter Terrorism and Trans National Crime Unit (CTTC) was formed.
But this unit has some limitations since it has to take IGP’s permission to operate outside Dhaka. Therefore, the ATU was formed for nationwide operation.
ADIG of ATU, Md Moniruzzaman said: “We are currently working from a rented building and the unit’s guideline is at the final stage of approval. Work is underway to collect information and prepare a database.”
“Though not as well equipped as the CTTC, we have the ability to carry out missions,” he added.
“When needed, we take the support from other groups in the country and outside,” he added.
“We also have plans to set up regional offices; first, we shall extend offices to divisional towns.”