US Embassy in Dhaka seeks dedicated police force, Bangladesh Police opposes
Highlights
- US Embassy seeks dedicated 30-member police force, led by DIG
- IGP says Bangladesh Police not in favour of the request
- He says dedicated force already in place to protect all embassies equally
- The final decision rests with home ministry
- In May 2023, Bangladesh withdrew additional security, citing equality for all
The US Embassy in Dhaka has formally requested the interim government of Bangladesh to deploy a dedicated police force to provide round-the-clock protection for its officials.
The demand for a Special Quick Response Force is part of the US State Department's SPEAR programme, which is designed to enhance the protection of its diplomatic missions and personnel worldwide. Under this initiative, the new force is trained by the US to respond quickly to emergencies and threats.
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Officials in the police headquarters confirmed to The Business Standard that the US Embassy requested a 30-member force, led by a deputy inspector general (DIG), exclusively dedicated to protecting its diplomats.
We already have a Diplomatic Security Division – a dedicated unit to ensure the safety of all embassies and their officials in Dhaka
Discussions have already been held with the interim government. In view of the embassy's demand, a letter has been sent from the home ministry to the Police Headquarters to seek its opinion.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said that the police are not in favour of the demand. "We have already conveyed our opinion to the home ministry that we are not in favour of the US Embassy's demand."
"We already have a Diplomatic Security Division – a dedicated unit to ensure the safety of all embassies and their officials in Dhaka. Despite having such a division, it would not be fair to deploy another special force committed to protecting only one embassy," he said.
The IGP, however, said that the final decision rests with the ministry.
Several attempts by TBS to reach home ministry's Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani for comment were unsuccessful. The US Embassy in Dhaka did not respond to repeated email requests from TBS.
Concerns over special treatment
The US request has raised concerns among diplomats who believe that providing a separate force for one embassy could cause discontent among other foreign missions.
Former diplomat Humayun Kabir said that while Bangladesh must address US security concerns, granting special privileges to a single embassy could create dissatisfaction.
He suggested that, as an alternative, Bangladesh could propose specialised training for all police personnel in the Diplomatic Security Division.
The US, UK, India, and Saudi Arabian ambassadors in Bangladesh previously received additional police escorts. This extra security was withdrawn in May 2023.
At the time, former foreign minister AK Abdul Momen had explained the decision, saying that many other countries had also requested additional security, which was not feasible. He had stated that the government would ensure equal security for all.
What is the SPEAR programme?
The SPEAR (Special Programme for Embassy Anti-terrorism Response) is operated and funded by the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) office. It was established in 2014 and has since trained more than 400 police officers in high-threat countries.
Under this programme, Quick Response Forces are formed from the host nation's law enforcement agencies to provide round-the-clock security for US embassies and consulates. These teams are trained and equipped by the ATA to respond to emergencies within minutes.
According to the US Embassy, SPEAR teams have thwarted terrorist attacks, prevented crimes, and provided emergency medical assistance in various countries.
SPEAR quick-response teams are already active in several countries, including Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, the Central African Republic, Niger, Kenya, Tunisia, Iraq, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, and Nigeria.
