Govt plans paramilitary force to strengthen airport security

The government is planning to establish a paramilitary force under the Home Ministry, led by the Air Force, to strengthen security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and other domestic airports across Bangladesh. 

The proposed force, provisionally named the Air Guard of Bangladesh (AGB), will operate in five regional zones nationwide. According to the ministry's proposal, the AGB will initially comprise 7,650 personnel, with 70% drawn from the Air Force, a figure that will later be reduced to 50%. 

The total estimated cost for the force is Tk771 crore, and a 12-member committee has already been formed to oversee its establishment. Sources familiar with a meeting held on 18 September told The Business Standard that officials discussed the roles of two designated agencies responsible for airport security and assessed their effectiveness before seeking input from existing forces on the AGB plan.

The primary objective of the AGB will be to ensure airport security and protection, including controlling access points, preventing intrusions, and assisting airport authorities in countering crimes such as murder and terrorism. 

The force will also address drone threats, cyberattacks, and safeguard terminals, fuel depots, aircraft on aprons, communication systems, and other critical infrastructure, thereby creating a reliable and secure environment for domestic and foreign airlines, tourists, investors, and labour export. Ensuring the safety of import-export cargo, sustaining international trade and investment flows, and supporting the national economy are also key goals.

In addition, the AGB will focus on preventing terrorist and explosive attacks in line with international standards and ensuring the safety of chemical, biological, and radioactive materials.

The force's operations will be divided into five zones.

The Southwest Zone, covering Jashore and Barishal, and the Northwest Zone, covering Saidpur, Rajshahi, Bogura, and Lalmonirhat, each commanded by a Wing Commander with 700 personnel. 

The Central Zone, including Kurmitola Airfield, will have 2,300 personnel. The Northeast Zone, covering Sylhet and Shamshernagar, will have 1,200 personnel, and the Southeast Zone, covering Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, will have 2,400 personnel. 

Each of these three zones will be led by a Group Captain. The AGB's headquarters will employ 350 staff.

The plan envisages a three-phase rollout from 2026 to 2032. In the first phase, half of the planned personnel, totalling 2,150 officers, will be deployed at Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet airports. 

The cost for this phase is projected at Tk215 crore, which will cover salaries of Tk86 crore, vehicles costing Tk32 crore, fuel and maintenance at Tk9 crore, construction expenses of Tk50 crore, medical care, uniforms and rations amounting to Tk23 crore, and equipment valued at Tk15 crore.

By 2028, personnel deployment in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet will reach 75% of the target, while Rajshahi, Saidpur, Jashore, and Barishal airports will have 50% coverage, at an estimated cost of Tk253 crore. The final phase, to be completed by 2030, will see full deployment at all airports nationwide, with a projected expenditure of Tk303 crore.

The AGB is expected to bring a modern, coordinated approach to airport security, combining Air Force expertise with paramilitary capability to protect passengers, aviation assets, and the nation's economic interests.