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Bangladesh Police are set to get a specialised unit to enhance its capacity to combat cybercrime, according to sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a letter on 21 September, Deputy Secretary (Police-3) Tanvir-Al-Nasif informed Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir that “the government has approved in-principle the formation of the specialised Cyber Police Unit.”
The unit will initially operate with the police force’s existing manpower and logistics and will be headed by an additional inspector general of police. The IGP has been asked to submit a proposal to the ministry within three working days outlining the posts and logistics required.
On 15 September, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced their plans for the force during an event at the Police Staff College in Dhaka. He had informed journalists present that police officers with engineering backgrounds and expertise in ICT and computer science would be posted to the new unit.
Cybercrime in Bangladesh is currently handled by several bodies, including the Cyber Police Centre under the Criminal Investigation Department and cyber units within the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
The home ministry said those units would be merged into the new force once it becomes operational.
Syed Harun Ar Rashid, a joint commissioner at the DMP, said cybercrime had risen sharply in recent years and that the new unit would strengthen the police response.
He said the unit would also help enforce the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, which bans online gambling and sets punishments for a range of offences, including the online harassment of women and children.
The ordinance also sets time limits for investigations. Officers are generally required to complete inquiries within 90 days of being assigned a case, with a possible 15-day extension subject to approval from a controlling officer.
Further extensions can be granted by courts in exceptional circumstances.
Separately, Salahudin held talks on 21 September with outgoing Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen on technical training and expertise to help tackle cybercrime.
The ministry said it planned to send a five-member delegation to China to study its experience and technology in combating such offences.
The delegation will comprise the head of the CID, an additional deputy inspector general and three police officers with digital forensics expertise.