SPBn takes charge of PMO security

Special Security and Protection Battalion, a special police unit, yesterday took over the charge of the security of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

SPBn-1, which has 700 members, has replaced a Dhaka Metropolitan Police unit with 200 personnel. The members of the new unit would be stationed outside the PMO fence.

Haider Ali Khan, special superintendent of SPBn-1, told The Daily Star last night that they took the charge as it is their duty to provide security to the PMO.

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SPBn was formed to ensure security to the VVIPs, including the prime minister, the president and foreign guests of same status, he said, adding that the members of the new unit would provide a two-tier security to the PMO.

"The SPBn members yesterday replaced the DMP personnel, "a top official of the DMP headquarters told this newspaper.

The official said as per the regulations, spcialised units are to ensure security of the Special Key Point Installations (KPIs). So the authorities formed the SPBn several years back. “Now the unit has taken the charge as it is capable of doing that."

A similar unit of the specialised unit, SPBn-2, has been working for providing security to the prime minister's official residence the Gono Bhaban for the last four years.

Headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG) and equipped with sophisticated arms and specialised training to cope with instant threats, the special force started its journey with a manpower of 1,400 personnel on July 5, 2013.