ATU renamed Special Response Unit, DMP’s CTTC also

The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) is being renamed the Special Response Unit (SRU), Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced, as part of a restructuring of the country’s counter-extremism operations.

Under the new structure, SRU branches will be established in different metropolitan areas across Bangladesh and operate under the command of the respective metropolitan police commissioners. Overall discipline and central command, however, will remain under an additional inspector general of police (IGP) serving as head of the SRU.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit will also be renamed SRU DMP, the minister said.

He made the announcement while addressing the Police Week 2026 medal presentation ceremony at the Rajarbagh Police Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday.

Salahuddin said officers at the ATU headquarters previously had nationwide jurisdiction to respond to extremist activities. The government is now bringing the unit under a more structured command framework as the SRU.

He said SRU branches would be established in metropolitan areas based on operational requirements, with the necessary number of officers and personnel assigned to each unit.

In Dhaka, the existing CTTC unit will operate as SRU DMP, while similar units will be established in other parts of the country where required.