Published: 11:44 PM, 26 July 2026
Police escorts withdrawn for 18 ministers
The government has withdrawn police movement escorts from 18 ministers as part of an austerity drive and to ease acute shortages of police personnel and vehicles, leaving the facility for only 14 key persons.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has already implemented the decision, according to government and police sources.
The ministers whose escorts have been withdrawn include Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan; Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury; Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu; Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita; Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir; Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury; Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon; and Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid.
The others are Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee; Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman; Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher; Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon; Health and Family Welfare Minister Sarder Md Sakhawat Hossain; Posts and Telecommunications and Science and ICT Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam; and Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam.
Police sources said 1,691 personnel are deployed in Dhaka for the personal security and movement of VIPs, including ministers, state ministers and other key state officials.
Under the current protocol, four police personnel guard a VIP's residence in shifts, one is posted at the office and five accompany the motorcade. The Special Branch also provides a gunman.
The VIP list includes the president, prime minister, Speaker, chief justice, leader of the opposition, chief election commissioner and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman. Others may be granted VIP status through a government gazette.
Former chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has also been granted VIP status, with five police personnel assigned to his security.
