Govt withdraws police escort for 18 ministers to cut state spending

The government has withdrawn special police escort services for 18 cabinet ministers as part of a broader drive to reduce public expenditure, conserve fuel and address growing shortages of police personnel and official vehicles.

However, the facility will remain in place for six senior ministers and one adviser to the prime minister, considering the strategic importance of their responsibilities.

The development was confirmed by personal officials of several ministers and senior officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), who said the decision has been implemented in phases since last week.

Government sources said the current administration had introduced special police escorts for most ministers travelling within Dhaka after assuming office. The cabinet currently comprises 24 full ministers.

Although the escort service has been withdrawn for most ministers, they will continue to receive armed security personnel, residential guards and special police protection during official visits outside the capital, in accordance with existing government policy.

Officials said the move followed directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with the Ministry of Home Affairs instructing Police Headquarters to rationalise expenditure on VIP security. Persistent shortages of police manpower and operational vehicles also influenced the decision.

A standard ministerial escort team consists of one sub-inspector (SI), four constables and a police pickup vehicle, with all salaries, allowances and fuel expenses funded by the state.

The ministers who will continue to receive police escorts are:
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir – Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury – Minister for Finance and Planning
Salahuddin Ahmed – Minister for Home Affairs
Iqbal Hasan Mahmud – Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
Dr Abu Jafar Md Zahid Hossain – Minister for Women and Children Affairs
Dr Khalilur Rahman – Minister for Foreign Affairs

The facility has also been retained for Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.

According to DMP data, 1,691 police personnel are currently assigned to provide security for 49 ministers, state ministers and other high-profile individuals in Dhaka, against a sanctioned requirement of 2,575 personnel—leaving a shortage of nearly 900 officers.

Police officials said the manpower deficit has forced many officers to work extended shifts, increasing both physical and mental pressure. The situation has been further aggravated by a shortage of vehicles after several units assigned to VIP security were destroyed during the July-August 2024 protests, when police stations and facilities came under attack.

With limited resources, police have increasingly been compelled to deploy a single vehicle to serve multiple VIPs, complicating security operations and stretching already scarce personnel.