SWAT (Bangladesh)
Encyclopedia
SWAT is an elite tactical unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police
, Bangladesh
. They operate under the Detective Branch of DMP. Eventually, the newly formed DMP unit SWAT is going to be expanded outwards forming one or more battalions. The force would remain as a part of the police force.
There are 44 members currently in the team and posted in Dhaka
, but they can be called up for any emergency to anywhere.
The SWAT will go for action whenever existing law enforcing agencies even the elite force of Bangladesh Police Rapid Action Battalion
(RAB) would fail to deal with the criminal groups or any criminal. The members of this team equipped with sophisticated weapons will act as 'quick response' and conduct 'risky' operations in Dhaka City and even outside if requires. This is a special wing of the Detective Branch, will work under direct control of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
The team will be more powerful than the elite police unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), especially since "This new force has been created especially to recover illegal arms and arrest the hardcore terrorists," said the DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed.
However the SWAT was operational before that date and seized the hosted service company Aktel, which was illegally providing service to five VoIP carriers. There were arrests and the equipment was confiscated as VoIP is banned in Bangladesh.
They were also deployed for security during the Bangladeshi general election, 2008 and at Shaheed Minar during celebrations for International Mother Language Day
.
Countering the rising car thefts in Dhaka is an immediate and top priority. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police also plans to reinforce security at hotels around the nation.
Operatives are trained in marksmanship for the development of accurate shooting skills, although the use of firearms is considered a last resort in law enforcement.
Other training that could be given to potential members includes training in explosives, sniper-training, defensive tactics, first-aid, negotiation, handling K9 units, abseiling (rappelling) and roping techniques and the use of specialized weapons and equipment.
They may also be trained specifically in the handling and use of special ammunition such as bean bags, flash bang grenades, tasers, and the use of crowd control methods, and special less-lethal munitions.
Basic training was conducted in Dhaka
and Tangail districts
. Afterwards SWAT members are sent to the Blackwater Training Academy, North Carolina
, United States
for six weeks advanced training.
Three US agencies such as the FBI, US Police SWAT and US Army provided training locally also.
In addition DMP SWAT has trained with a South Korean counter-terrorist unit too.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police is the division of Bangladesh Police responsible for law enforcement in the metropolis of Dhaka, the national capital and most populous city in Bangladesh. The DMP is the largest police force in Bangladesh...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. They operate under the Detective Branch of DMP. Eventually, the newly formed DMP unit SWAT is going to be expanded outwards forming one or more battalions. The force would remain as a part of the police force.
There are 44 members currently in the team and posted in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, but they can be called up for any emergency to anywhere.
The SWAT will go for action whenever existing law enforcing agencies even the elite force of Bangladesh Police Rapid Action Battalion
Rapid Action Battalion
Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of Bangladesh Police constituted amending the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979. Under the command of Inspector General of Police it consists of members of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,...
(RAB) would fail to deal with the criminal groups or any criminal. The members of this team equipped with sophisticated weapons will act as 'quick response' and conduct 'risky' operations in Dhaka City and even outside if requires. This is a special wing of the Detective Branch, will work under direct control of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
The team will be more powerful than the elite police unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), especially since "This new force has been created especially to recover illegal arms and arrest the hardcore terrorists," said the DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed.
Duties
- Hostage rescue.
- Crime suppression.
- Perimeter anti-sniper security for VIPs.
- Providing superior assault firepower in certain high-risk situations.
- Rescuing officers and citizens captured or endangered by gunfire.
- Countering urban terrorist operations.
- Resolve high-risk situations with a minimum loss of life, injury or property damage.
- Resolve situations involving barricaded subjects, (specifically covered by a Hostage Barricade Team).
- Stabilise situations involving high-risk suicidal subjects.
- Provide assistance during drug raids, and serving high-risk arrest and search warrants.
- Provide additional security at special events.
- Stabilising dangerous situations by dealing with violent criminals (such as serial killers or heavily-armed gangsters ).
Operations
The SWAT was established on February 28, 2009, and was supposed to be deployed in Dhaka on March 1 of that year.However the SWAT was operational before that date and seized the hosted service company Aktel, which was illegally providing service to five VoIP carriers. There were arrests and the equipment was confiscated as VoIP is banned in Bangladesh.
They were also deployed for security during the Bangladeshi general election, 2008 and at Shaheed Minar during celebrations for International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999...
.
Countering the rising car thefts in Dhaka is an immediate and top priority. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police also plans to reinforce security at hotels around the nation.
Training
SWAT applicants undergo rigorous selection and training, similar to the training some special operations units in the military receive. Applicants must pass stringent physical agility, written, oral, and psychological testing to ensure they are not only fit enough but also psychologically suited for tactical operations. Applicants must successfully pass a stringent background investigation and job performance review. Emphasis is placed on physical fitness so an officer will be able to withstand the rigors of tactical operations.Operatives are trained in marksmanship for the development of accurate shooting skills, although the use of firearms is considered a last resort in law enforcement.
Other training that could be given to potential members includes training in explosives, sniper-training, defensive tactics, first-aid, negotiation, handling K9 units, abseiling (rappelling) and roping techniques and the use of specialized weapons and equipment.
They may also be trained specifically in the handling and use of special ammunition such as bean bags, flash bang grenades, tasers, and the use of crowd control methods, and special less-lethal munitions.
Basic training was conducted in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
and Tangail districts
Tangail District
Tangail is a district in central region of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka division. The population of Tangail zilla is about 3.2 million and its surface area is 3,414.39 km². The main town of Tangail District is the district town Tangail...
. Afterwards SWAT members are sent to the Blackwater Training Academy, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for six weeks advanced training.
Three US agencies such as the FBI, US Police SWAT and US Army provided training locally also.
In addition DMP SWAT has trained with a South Korean counter-terrorist unit too.
Weapons
| Name | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M4A1 M4 Carbine The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,... |
Assault rifle Assault rifle An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies... |
5.56mm | ||
| Armalite AR-10 | Sniper rifle Sniper rifle In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military... |
7.62mm | ||
| Colt 9mm Colt 9mm SMG The Colt 9mm SMG is a 9x19mm Parabellum submachine gun manufactured by Colt, based on the M16 rifle platform.-Design details:The Colt 9mm SMG is a closed bolt, blowback operated SMG, rather than the conventional direct impingement gas operation of the standard 5.56x45mm M16 type rifle.The overall... |
Submachine gun Submachine gun A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were... |
9mm | ||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 Heckler & Koch MP5 The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar.... |
Submachine gun | 9mm |