Dhaka Metropolitan Police

Dhaka Metropolitan Police
source
Agency name	Dhaka Metropolitan Police
Abbreviation	DMP
Country	Bangladesh
Headquarters	Ramna, Dhaka
Chief1 name	Commissioner of Police
Parent agency	Bangladesh Police
Anniversary	1976

Dhaka Metropolitan Police is the primary civic law enforcement body responsible for maintaining public order, crime prevention, and traffic management within the metropolitan area of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Established to serve a rapidly growing urban population, it operates alongside national institutions such as the Bangladesh Police and national security organs. Its remit intersects with municipal authorities like the Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation and with national agencies including the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Rapid Action Battalion.

History

DMP was formed in the mid-1970s during a period of post-independence consolidation following the Bangladesh Liberation War and the reorganization of policing across the country. Its development reflects broader changes in urban governance influenced by events such as the 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état and subsequent political transitions including the administrations of Ziaur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina. Over time DMP expanded in size and scope in response to events such as the 1990 mass uprising in Bangladesh, the growth of Dhaka into a megacity, and high-profile security challenges exemplified by incidents like the 2016 Dhaka attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery.

Organizational structure

DMP uses a hierarchical command model aligned with rank structures in Bangladesh Police. The agency is led by a Commissioner of Police who coordinates with divisional and unit heads similar to other metropolitan police forces such as the Metropolitan Police Service (London) and the New York City Police Department. Key components include specialized units inspired by international models: a traffic unit, a detective branch comparable to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), an armed support unit analogous to the Special Weapons and Tactics paradigm, and an intelligence wing interfacing with the National Security Intelligence apparatus. Administrative functions coordinate with bodies like the Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh) for disciplinary oversight.

Jurisdiction and divisions

DMP's jurisdiction covers the municipal boundaries of Dhaka defined administratively by wards and thanas; operationally it is divided into police zones and stations similar to models used in Kolkata Police and Mumbai Police. Prominent police stations correspond to localities such as Gulshan, Banani, Motijheel, and Mirpur. It also coordinates with transport authorities including the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority for traffic and with utilities overseen by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority. Cross-border and inter-agency cooperation occurs with entities like Bangladesh Railway police for security at transit hubs and with Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport security for aviation-related incidents.

Duties and operations

DMP conducts typical metropolitan policing functions: patrol, criminal investigation, public order management, traffic control, and VIP protection comparable to duties performed by Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and Paris Police Prefecture. Operations have included counterterrorism responses alongside the Rapid Action Battalion and crowd-control during national events connected to political parties such as the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. DMP also enforces statutes under laws including the Penal Code, 1860 and procedural codes like the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and implements court orders from magistrates and high courts such as the High Court Division of Bangladesh.

Equipment and resources

The force employs a mix of vehicles, communications gear, and personal protective equipment sourced domestically and from international suppliers; visible assets include patrol cars, motorcycles, armored vehicles, and water cannon similar to those used by urban police forces worldwide. Forensics and laboratory support is provided through collaborations with institutions like the Forensic Science Laboratory (Bangladesh) and academic partners such as the University of Dhaka. Communications infrastructure links to national networks managed by bodies like the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and utilizes systems comparable to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System used elsewhere.

Training and recruitment

Recruitment follows national standards coordinated with the Public Service Commission (Bangladesh) and in-service promotion mirrors practices in the Bangladesh Civil Service. New recruits undergo training at institutions modeled after the Police Staff College Bangladesh and the Police Training Centre network, with modules on investigation, human rights, traffic management, and crowd control. Senior officers receive advanced courses often in partnership with foreign counterparts such as training exchanges with the Royal Malaysian Police and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Community relations and crime prevention

DMP engages in community policing initiatives aimed at building trust with neighborhoods in areas like Dhanmondi and Uttara, collaborating with civil society groups, business associations such as the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and educational institutions including the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Crime prevention programs include neighborhood watch partnerships, youth outreach modeled on programs in Singapore and Japan, and public awareness campaigns coordinated with media outlets such as The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. These efforts aim to reduce urban vulnerabilities linked to issues managed by municipal actors like the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan while responding to the security needs of a rapidly changing metropolis.

Category:Law enforcement in Bangladesh Category:Organisations based in Dhaka