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Despite being established in 2010, the Industrial Police in Bangladesh still operates without its own dedicated police lines.
To address this longstanding gap, Bangladesh Police has proposed the establishment of five specialised police lines across key industrial zones in the country.
The proposed locations include Ashulia-Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram, and Mymensingh. Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police, Gazi Jashim Uddin, confirmed the development to media on 4 July.
Since its formation, the Industrial Police has relied on temporary and rented facilities.
“A proposal has been submitted to the Home Ministry to establish dedicated police lines for this specialised force,” said Jashim Uddin. He added that land allocation has already been requested, while the Department of Architecture is currently preparing design plans for the facilities.
The force has also proposed setting up a full-fledged unit in Khulna.
At present, the Khulna unit—along with its sub-units in Mongla and Jashore—operates from a temporary office inside a jute mill, highlighting the urgent need for permanent infrastructure.
Manpower shortage remains a critical challenge. The Industrial Police currently has around 3,500 personnel, significantly below its approved strength of 4,200 across nine units.
Existing full-fledged units are located in Ashulia-Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram, while additional units operate in Khulna, Sylhet, Cumilla, and Mymensingh.
Units in Sylhet and Cumilla are led by superintendent-level officers on deputation, and the Mymensingh unit is also functioning with insufficient staff.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Police Headquarters itself has been operating from a rented office since its inception.
Jashim Uddin emphasized the need for a permanent headquarters to ensure smoother operations and improved efficiency in maintaining law and order in industrial areas.
A new Industrial Police unit in Mirsharai, Chattogram, is expected to begin operations this month. The government has allocated 160 personnel for the unit, though the force had initially requested 1,600.
Highlighting regional challenges, Jashim Uddin noted the urgent need to expand operations in northern districts such as Rangpur and Nilphamari, where labour unrest often requires rapid response.
A proposal to establish a separate unit in Bogura has been submitted but is yet to receive government approval.
“It is very tough to manage labour unrest across industrial belts with such limited manpower,” he said.
Bangladesh is home to nearly 6,000 ready-made garment (RMG) factories and other industries, employing over 40 lakh workers and generating approximately $55–60 billion in annual export earnings.
Established on 31 October 2010, the Industrial Police is a specialised unit of Bangladesh Police tasked with maintaining law and order in industrial areas, protecting workers and investors, and ensuring a safe, production-friendly environment.
The force operates under the Industrial Police Rules, 2017, with its headquarters currently located in Uttara, Dhaka.
