Cyber Police Unit begins operations with 4,592 personnel, experts

Highlights:

• Additional IGP Iqbal Hossain has been assigned charge of the new unit.
• The unit will recruit highly skilled experts on an outsourced or contractual basis, including specialists in dark web, crypto, malware, cybersecurity and financial data analysis.
• A digital forensic laboratory equipped with advanced technology and cyber equipment is being established under the unit.

A specialised, standalone Cyber Police Unit has formally begun operations under Bangladesh Police, with a mandate to combat cybercrime, strengthen digital security and enhance technology-based investigations.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the unit at the Hall of Integrity at Police Headquarters in the capital this afternoon (1 October).

Speaking at a press briefing after the inauguration, the minister said the unit was launched as part of efforts to transform the police into a modern force that relies on technology and knowledge to deal with changing patterns of crime and the growing use of artificial intelligence.

"The new Cyber Police Unit will be headed by an additional inspector general of police. Initially, Additional IGP Iqbal Hossain has been given charge of the unit," Salahuddin said.

He also said deputy inspectors general and additional DIGs would oversee the unit's activities at the divisional level, while police superintendents or other senior officers assigned to the role would be responsible for it at the district level.

The home minister said separate sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and constables would also be posted at police stations to provide cyber-related services and conduct investigations under the leadership of the officer-in-charge.

According to the approved organogram, the unit will have a total of 4,592 personnel. Experienced and trained members from the existing police force will initially be posted to the unit, while the full workforce will be completed through new recruitment.

The unit will also have a special arrangement for recruiting highly skilled experts on an outsourced or contractual basis to ensure international-standard technical expertise beyond the traditional police structure.

During the press briefing, Minister Salahuddin said experts would be recruited for specialised positions including system analyst, financial data analyst, cyber security expert, network administrator, dark-web analyst, crypto analyst, malware analyst, social media analyst, emergency response consultant and disaster recovery expert.

They will receive a separate and attractive pay structure, he said, adding that IT-trained members of the regular police force will also be given priority for posting to the unit.

He also said advanced specialised training at home and abroad had already been arranged for senior officers involved in monitoring and managing the unit.

Special incentives would also be provided to officers and experts based on their work and contributions, he added.

On the unit's laboratories and infrastructure, Salahuddin said the need for digital and forensic laboratories, alongside chemical laboratories, had become increasingly important in dealing with money laundering, social media-based crimes, rumours, financial crimes, drugs and extremism.

Considering this reality, a digital forensic laboratory equipped with advanced technology and cyber equipment is being established under the Cyber Police Unit, he added.

The minister said the unit would bring together cyber investigations that had previously been conducted in an unorganised manner by different police units, removing the lack of coordination by placing all activities under a single, organised structure.

He expressed hope that the launch of the specialised unit would help successfully combat and prevent the misuse of cyberspace and all forms of cybercrime in Bangladesh.

Senior Home Secretary Monzur Morshed Chowdhury and IGP Ali Hossain Fakir, among others, were present at the press briefing.