Private protection

Security companies thrive

Currently, about 500 private security agencies—engaging a little more than 300,000 people—are in operation mostly in Dhaka and the other big cities. The sector is providing an estimated Tk 300 crore to the national exchequer.

In the big cities of Bangladesh, the first line of defence against crime stands just over five-and-a-half feet tall, earns less than Tk 200 per day, and is armed with little more than a shiny belt buckle and a rolled-up daily newspaper.
Private security guards have long been a sleepy presence in Bangladesh. But a steady rise in the urban population, combined with a decline in law and order, has sparked both a demand for them and a few controversies surrounding them.
With the terrorist attack on the Gulshan café along with the murders of several foreigners in recent times, private security companies are recording an increased demand for their services.
The Bangladesh Private Security Act came into force in 2006. Another law was passed in 2013, putting the private security providers under the purview of the labour ministry.
Currently, about 500 private security agencies—engaging a little more than 300,000 people—are in operation mostly in Dhaka and the other big cities. The sector is providing an estimated
Tk 300 crore to the national exchequer.
Apart from private housing, sectors like real estate, banks, NGOs, financial institutions, telecommunications, embassies, shopping malls, factories, and other private firms are the main clients of these agencies.
 
Portfolio diversification
Talking to The Independent, Brig. Gen. (retd) Aziz Sharif, managing director of Elite Security Services Ltd, said the private security service providers are diversifying their portfolio in terms of providing newer types of security services.
After Italian NGO worker Cesare Tavella and Japanese agriculturist Kunio Hoshi were killed in similar ways in Dhaka and Rangpur respectively, foreigners in Bangladesh are concerned about their security.
“We have started a close protection service and an escort service for foreigners and important business delegations. These have become popular among them,” he said, adding that it has boosted their business by about 20 per cent.
Brig. Gen. Sharif said that after the Gulshan attack, the demand for the firm’s services has increased. “Security measures have been beefed up in all sorts of organisations. Even residential houses have boosted security measures by installing several types of equipment,” he said.
He said Elite now provides more than 20 kinds of security services. “We started with uniformed security guards. Now we provide fool-proof security system installations with state-of-the-art equipment. We also provide private investigation services, among others.”
The US embassy and other foreign consulates in Dhaka had wanted Bangladeshi security companies to be armed as a secondary protection. The personnel employed by security companies at the diplomatic missions and thousands of other establishments in Dhaka are unarmed, in compliance with Bangladeshi laws.
Brig Gen (retd) Sharif acknowledged that the demand for armed security guards has increased. “The problem is that the government has imposed restrictions on armed private security forces, and I believe that the government is right.”
He said there are more than 500 private security service providers in the country. “Very few of them maintain the standards that a security service provider should maintain. So, it is not wise to hand them arms on a massive scale,” he explained.
He said Elite Security Services has around 600 armed security guards. “The licences for the arms those guards carry are their own. We mostly recruit former law enforcement personnel who have their own licences,” he said.
He said Elite has applied for 50 arms licences. “We haven’t got the permission yet,” he added.
 
Security concerns
Lt Col. (retd) Khalid Azam, president of Bangladesh Professional Security Service Providers Association (BPSSPA), told The Independent that the private security service sector has come a long way over the last two decades. These service providers can provide quality and standard services required in situations like the current one, wherein foreigners need security.
He said that people from many countries are not used to the lengthy procedures connected with availing security from law enforcement agencies. It is particularly difficult because many of these foreigners stay here for very short periods of time.
“Besides, it is also difficult for the law enforcement personnel to provide security at the individual level because of the bureaucratic red tape. To enjoy security from state agencies, one has to first apply to the police commissioner of the relevant area. If the commissioner deems the application fit, he forwards it to the relevant local police station with instructions for arranging the security of the applicant. That usually takes a bit of time,” he explained.
“That’s why they are opting for private security services,” he added.
About the alleged involvement of some private security providers with crimes like abduction, snatching, hijackings, robberies, and murder, the BPSSPA president said a lot of private security providers are not members of the association.
“We have only 60 members. There are hundreds of security service providers that do not follow any rules and regulation. I think those organisations should be monitored and regulated. Otherwise, they might engage in criminal activities.”
To stop such activities, the government in October 2012 planned to introduce a uniform for the staff members of all private agencies. Official documents from then reveal that grey or light olive-coloured shirts and dark blue pants were likely to be introduced for private security guards. That plan has not been implemented yet.
Also, after Somali pirates hijacked a Bangladeshi ship, MV Jahan Moni, for the first time, along with 25 crew members and a passenger, on December 5, 2010, the government planned to allow private security personnel to protect Bangladeshi ships from pirates in international waters. The shipping ministry also approved the proposal. But again, no such deployment has been done, as the country’s private security agencies lack the personnel who are ready to cross their known boundaries.

Private protection

Security companies thrive

Currently, about 500 private security agencies—engaging a little more than 300,000 people—are in operation mostly in Dhaka and the other big cities. The sector is providing an estimated Tk 300 crore to the national exchequer.

In the big cities of Bangladesh, the first line of defence against crime stands just over five-and-a-half feet tall, earns less than Tk 200 per day, and is armed with little more than a shiny belt buckle and a rolled-up daily newspaper. Private security guards have long been a sleepy presence in Bangladesh. But a steady rise in the urban population, combined with a decline in law and order, has sparked both a demand for them and a few controversies surrounding them. With the terrorist attack on the Gulshan caf along with the murders of several foreigners in recent times, private security companies are recording an increased demand for their services. The Bangladesh Private Security Act came into force in 2006. Another law was passed in 2013, putting the private security providers under the purview of the labour ministry. Currently, about 500 private security agenciesengaging a little more than 300,000 peopleare in operation mostly in Dhaka and the other big cities. The sector is providing an estimated Tk 300 crore to the national exchequer. Apart from private housing, sectors like real estate, banks, NGOs, financial institutions, telecommunications, embassies, shopping malls, factories, and other private firms are the main clients of these agencies. Portfolio diversification Talking to The Independent, Brig. Gen. (retd) Aziz Sharif, managing director of Elite Security Services Ltd, said the private security service providers are diversifying their portfolio in terms of providing newer types of security services. After Italian NGO worker Cesare Tavella and Japanese agriculturist Kunio Hoshi were killed in similar ways in Dhaka and Rangpur respectively, foreigners in Bangladesh are concerned about their security. We have started a close protection service and an escort service for foreigners and important business delegations. These have become popular among them, he said, adding that it has boosted their business by about 20 per cent. Brig. Gen. Sharif said that after the Gulshan attack, the demand for the firms services has increased. Security measures have been beefed up in all sorts of organisations. Even residential houses have boosted security measures by installing several types of equipment, he said. He said Elite now provides more than 20 kinds of security services. We started with uniformed security guards. Now we provide fool-proof security system installations with state-of-the-art equipment. We also provide private investigation services, among others. The US embassy and other foreign consulates in Dhaka had wanted Bangladeshi security companies to be armed as a secondary protection. The personnel employed by security companies at the diplomatic missions and thousands of other establishments in Dhaka are unarmed, in compliance with Bangladeshi laws. Brig Gen (retd) Sharif acknowledged that the demand for armed security guards has increased. The problem is that the government has imposed restrictions on armed private security forces, and I believe that the government is right. He said there are more than 500 private security service providers in the country. Very few of them maintain the standards that a security service provider should maintain. So, it is not wise to hand them arms on a massive scale, he explained. He said Elite Security Services has around 600 armed security guards. The licences for the arms those guards carry are their own. We mostly recruit former law enforcement personnel who have their own licences, he said. He said Elite has applied for 50 arms licences. We havent got the permission yet, he added. Security concerns Lt Col. (retd) Khalid Azam, president of Bangladesh Professional Security Service Providers Association (BPSSPA), told The Independent that the private security service sector has come a long way over the last two decades. These service providers can provide quality and standard services required in situations like the current one, wherein foreigners need security. He said that people from many countries are not used to the lengthy procedures connected with availing security from law enforcement agencies. It is particularly difficult because many of these foreigners stay here for very short periods of time. Besides, it is also difficult for the law enforcement personnel to provide security at the individual level because of the bureaucratic red tape. To enjoy security from state agencies, one has to first apply to the police commissioner of the relevant area. If the commissioner deems the application fit, he forwards it to the relevant local police station with instructions for arranging the security of the applicant. That usually takes a bit of time, he explained. Thats why they are opting for private security services, he added. About the alleged involvement of some private security providers with crimes like abduction, snatching, hijackings, robberies, and murder, the BPSSPA president said a lot of private security providers are not members of the association. We have only 60 members. There are hundreds of security service providers that do not follow any rules and regulation. I think those organisations should be monitored and regulated. Otherwise, they might engage in criminal activities. To stop such activities, the government in October 2012 planned to introduce a uniform for the staff members of all private agencies. Official documents from then reveal that grey or light olive-coloured shirts and dark blue pants were likely to be introduced for private security guards. That plan has not been implemented yet. Also, after Somali pirates hijacked a Bangladeshi ship, MV Jahan Moni, for the first time, along with 25 crew members and a passenger, on December 5, 2010, the government planned to allow private security personnel to protect Bangladeshi ships from pirates in international waters. The shipping ministry also approved the proposal. But again, no such deployment has been done, as the countrys private security agencies lack the personnel who are ready to cross their known boundaries.