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Police have withdrawn escort privileges for 18 ministers travelling within the capital, leaving only six ministers and one adviser with ministerial rank entitled to the facility.
However, all ministers will continue to receive police protection and security during official visits outside Dhaka, if required.
The decision was taken by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) following instructions from the Home Ministry in line with the prime minister’s directive, according to officials at the DMP and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The ministers who will continue to receive police escort are Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud.
Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, who holds the status of a minister, will also retain the escort facility.
Md Shahriar Alam, deputy commissioner of the DMP’s Protection Division, said the move would help reduce fuel consumption and ease pressure on police vehicles and personnel.
“Reducing escort services for ministers will lower fuel costs while easing the burden on vehicles and manpower. The freed-up vehicles and personnel can now be deployed for regular policing duties in the capital,” he said.