Cyber Police Unit begins operations

A specialised Cyber Police Unit has officially begun operations under Bangladesh Police to combat cybercrime, strengthen digital security and enhance technology-based investigation capabilities.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed formally inaugurated the unit at Police Headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday (October 1) evening.

At a press briefing after the inauguration, the minister said the unit was established to transform the police force into a technology- and expertise-driven organisation in response to changing crime patterns and the growing use of artificial intelligence.

The unit will be headed by an additional inspector general of police, with Additional IGP Md Iqbal Hossain initially assigned to lead it.

At the divisional level, deputy inspector generals and additional deputy inspector generals will oversee the unit’s activities, while police superintendents or senior designated officers will be responsible at the district level.

Separate sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and constables will be deployed at police stations to provide cyber-related services and conduct investigations.

According to the approved organisational structure, the unit will have a total of 4,592 personnel. Experienced and trained members of the existing police force will initially be deployed, while the remaining positions will be filled through new recruitment.

The unit will also recruit specialised experts on an outsourcing and contractual basis, including system analysts, financial data analysts, cybersecurity experts, network administrators, dark web analysts, crypto analysts, malware analysts, social media analysts, emergency response consultants and disaster recovery experts.

The minister said the unit would have a separate attractive salary structure for contractual experts, while IT-trained members of the regular police force would receive priority for deployment.

A modern digital forensic laboratory equipped with advanced technology and cyber equipment is also being established under the unit to support investigations into money laundering, social media-based crimes, financial crimes, misinformation, drug trafficking and extremism.

Salahuddin said the unit would bring cyber investigations previously conducted separately by different police units under a single, coordinated structure.

Senior officials from the Home Ministry and Bangladesh Police, including Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury and IGP Md Ali Hossain Fakir, attended the briefing.

-AH