Police to Get 5,830 Vehicles as Two Projects Worth Tk 6,608 Crore Head to Ecnec

The Home Ministry has moved to buy 5,830 vehicles to strengthen police patrols, emergency response and crime control across the country. Two projects worth Tk 6,608.14 crore have been proposed for the purchase, and both are scheduled to be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec). If approved, the plan is to collect the vehicles by June 2029.

Of the two proposed projects, Tk 4,328 crore has been set aside for 4,829 general and operational vehicles. Another Tk 2,280.14 crore has been proposed for 1,001 specialised vehicles. Both projects are planned for implementation from October 2026 to June 2029, and the government will finance them entirely.

The project proposals say there is a significant gap between the police force's existing vehicle fleet and its operational needs. Collecting new vehicles would make it easier to increase the police presence at field level and deliver faster service, the proposals argue.

According to project documents, the police currently have only 1,237 vehicles to serve an area of about 147,000 square kilometres under 639 administrative police stations — on average, not even two vehicles per station. Moreover, about 64 percent of the existing vehicles are more than 10 years old. Dependence on old vehicles and the limited fleet are making regular patrols, rapid arrival at emergencies and deployment of personnel increasingly difficult.

Officials hope the new vehicles will reduce those limitations while improving crime control, public order and the ability to respond quickly to security risks.

The specialised vehicle project plans to buy riot-control vehicles, vehicles suited to difficult terrain, mobile command centres and specialised vans for visiting crime scenes. These are expected to make crowd control, operations in remote areas, coordination among field units and evidence collection in criminal investigations more effective.

The plan also includes buying speedboats and country boats to expand police activity across the country's extensive river network. The watercraft will support river patrols, security at key installations, anti-terrorism operations and emergency rescue work.

Alongside the purchases, the projects plan training for police members in operating, maintaining and repairing the vehicles. Under the general project, 650 people will be trained in light vehicle driving and mechanics, 300 in heavy vehicle driving and mechanics and 50 in vehicle repair. The specialised project proposes driving and mechanics training for 910 people and mechanics training for another 50, while Tk 1.5 crore has been allocated in the general project for maintenance and repair equipment. Planners say skilled manpower and regular maintenance would raise the fleet's effectiveness and durability.

The combined cost has also been split by fiscal year: Tk 2,080.94 crore in 2026-27, Tk 2,867.55 crore in 2027-28 and Tk 1,660.58 crore in 2028-29.

Feasibility studies for the two projects cite a benefit-cost ratio of 1.05 — meaning that, on the assumptions used in the studies, the expected economic benefits are slightly higher than the costs.

The revised development project proposal for the general vehicles was reviewed at a project evaluation committee meeting on 15 October. Following the committee's recommendation, the proposal to train personnel abroad was dropped, and the project was revised in line with the rules of the relevant authorities and the Finance Division; it was also aligned with the election manifesto. The specialised vehicle project, meanwhile, was recommended for Ecnec's consideration after review by the Planning Commission's physical infrastructure division.

Neither project has yet received final approval, and implementation depends on Ecnec's decision. If approved, the purchases would open the way to a stronger police fleet and field capacity. But observers note that realising the benefits will require a transparent procurement process, distribution according to need, regular maintenance and genuinely faster police service.