Police's two specialised units renamed as 'SSU' and 'SSU-DMP'

The Bangladesh Police has renamed two of its specialised units: the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC). Under the new names, ATU will now be known as the Special Security Unit (SSU), while CTTC will become the Special Security Unit-DMP (SSU-DMP). Police headquarters sources confirmed the development on Tuesday, July 7.

The move comes after police headquarters proposed changing the names and expanding the responsibilities of the two units. On June 7, a proposal was sent to the Home Ministry seeking approval to rename ATU to SSU. The following day, a separate letter was sent to the DMP Commissioner to rename CTTC to SSU-DMP.

Explaining the rationale, police headquarters said the nature of security threats both domestically and globally is rapidly evolving. Alongside violent extremism, new challenges such as artificial intelligence (AI), the expansion of the internet, and technology-driven security threats require a more modern and comprehensive framework.

Under the new structure, the units' core security responsibilities will remain unchanged, officials said. However, their role will expand beyond counter-terrorism to include internal security, national stability, and public safety.

ATU was formed following the 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, which killed 22 people. It officially began operations on December 7, 2017, with an authorised strength of 620 personnel.

Police headquarters noted that extremist and militant groups are now using modern tactics to plan, finance and execute attacks, aiming to undermine state security and social stability. These groups exploit religious misinterpretations to recruit economically vulnerable individuals, spread rumours online, and attempt to create communal violence.

To counter these evolving threats, ATU is being transformed into SSU. The new unit will not only combat militancy but will also play a broader role in safeguarding internal security, national stability and public safety.

The name 'Special Security Unit' is internationally recognised, which will facilitate cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies and enhance coordination with other domestic security forces, the proposal added.