http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=166704
Industrial police set to swing into action
DEEPAK ACHARJEE
The much-talked about ‘industrial police’ will start its activities by this month with a view to ensuring law and order in industrial areas, especially in the readymade garment units.
It would be a unit of the Bangladesh police like the highways police and a deputy inspector general (DIG) of police would head the unit, sources in the home ministry said yesterday.
Home secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder yesterday told The Independent that they were ready to form the proposed industrial police and the home ministry was likely to issue a circular in this regard this month.
“The circular will be issued after getting approval from the finance ministry,” he said adding: “We sent a proposal to the finance ministry recently seeking its approval for forming the industrial police and we hope that the ministry will approve it this week,” he said.
The home secretary said that the new dress and logo of the proposed industrial police would be introduced.
Abdus Sobhan Sikder said that the seven-member sub-committee headed by the additional secretary of the home ministry, would submit its report today (Sunday or Monday) to the ministry recommending how to form the industrial police.
Sources said that the industrial police would be deployed in different industrial zones, especially in the garment factory areas, to check labour unrest.
The industrial police, which is a long demand of the industrialists, especially garment manufacturers, would initially be manned by 1,850 members, the sources added.
A deputy inspector general (DIG)-level police officer will be appointed as the director general (DG) of the industrial police and five directors of the wing will also be appointed on deputation from the existing law enforcement agencies.
The establishment ministry approved 1,580 members for manning the industrial police for initial function.
Officers and constables of the new police wing will be appointed from the forces of police, Ansar, Village Defence Party (VDP) and fire service on deputation. Fifty per cent of the manpower of the total employees of the wing would be from the police department.
Five different departments-Intelligence, investigation, operation, administration, and training — would be set up for the proposed industrial police.
According to the Home Ministry’s proposal, the industrial police would consist of four separate units to be primarily deployed in four major industrial zones-Ashulia, Savar, Gazipur, and Narayanganj-at a cost of Tk 20.3 crore.
