The Bangladesh government has drawn up two projects to purchase a total of 5,830 vehicles of various types to strengthen the operational capacity of the police force and improve law enforcement across the country, according to local media reports.
The two projects propose a combined expenditure of approximately Tk 66.09 billion (Tk 6,609 crore). Under one project, 4,829 vehicles for regular police operations would be purchased at a cost of more than Tk 43.28 billion (Tk 4,328 crore). The other project proposes purchasing 1,001 specialised vehicles at a cost of more than Tk 22.8 billion (Tk 2,280 crore).
The specialised vehicles will include riot-control vehicles, off-road vehicles, mobile command-centre vehicles and forensic vehicles used to collect and examine evidence at crime scenes. The plan also includes purchasing watercraft for river patrols and rescue operations.
According to The Daily Star, around 64 per cent of the 1,237 vehicles currently used by 639 administrative police stations in Bangladesh are more than 10 years old. The shortage of vehicles and their deteriorating condition have reportedly created difficulties for police in conducting patrols, investigating crimes and responding quickly to emergencies.
The report also states that 1,074 police-owned vehicles were damaged during the public uprising in July and August 2024, including 455 that were set on fire. The incident further aggravated the shortage of vehicles within the police force.
The two projects are scheduled to be submitted for approval at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on October 25, 2026. If approved, the projects are expected to be completed by June 2029.
Source: The Daily Star.
