For the first time, the government is going to form four "Guard battalions" to provide security to Very Important Persons (VIPs) such as ministers, members of parliament (MPs), justices and secretaries. Of the four battalions, two would comprise police personnel and the other two members of Ansar and the VDP, sources in the home ministry said.

Members of the proposed "Guard Battalions" will be deployed as "house guards" at the residences of VIPs. They will escort and provide security to VIPs while they move around, the sources added. The home ministry has convened a meeting in this regard today, according to the sources.

Additional Secretary (political) Md Abdul Hannan will preside over the meeting. Talking to The Independent, Md Abdul Hannan said: “After the battalions are formed, the basic duties of the police personnel would not be hampered. At present, a number of policemen are providing security to VIPs at their residences.”

Sources said the home ministry is going to form the battalions after getting directives from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

In a letter to the home ministry, the PMO said escort vehicles will be arranged from the ministries or departments concerned for those being provided with security service.

After forming the battalions, policemen from police stations and the reserve force would not be allowed to provide escort services to VIPs during their movement,” the letter added.

“Residence facilities for members of the proposed ‘Guard Battalions’ would be provided by the person concerned or the department or minister concerned who they will guard,” the letter said.

At present, there are 14 battalions including tourist police, immigration police, railway police, highway police, industrial police,   Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Special Security and Protection Battalion (SPBn), Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Airport Armed Police (AAP), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and SWAT.