Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the home ministry to carry out its activities under two divisions, named the Public Security Division (Janonirapotta Bibhag) and the Internal Security Services Division (Obhyantorin Surakkha Seba Bibhag ), sources in the home ministry and in the Cabinet Division said. Taking into consideration the importance and massive workload, the PM instructed the home ministry and the Cabinet Division to take immediate steps to bifurcate the ministry into two divisions, according to a letter sent from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The letter also mentioned the area of operations of the two divisions. According to the directive, the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar, Village Defence Party (VDP), Bangladesh Coast Guard and the International Crimes Tribunal(s) wings would operate under the Public Security Division.
The Directorate of Immigration and Passports, jail department, Bangladesh Fire Services and Civil Defence,  Department of Narcotics Control and the National Telecommunications and Monitoring Centre will come under the Internal Security Services Division, says the PMO letter signed by a director.
“Two secretaries will be appointed for the two divisions. If necessary, one more minister or state minister is likely to look after the new divisions,” a senior official of the home ministry told The Independent. “We are preparing a proposal in this regard for sending it to the Cabinet Division to be placed before a meeting of the secretary committee on administrative affairs. After getting the recommendations of the committee, two separate divisions would be formed,” he added.
The official said they have proposed to create posts of two secretaries for the proposed two new divisions and one post of senior secretary of the ministry to maintain better coordination between the division’s officials and the high-ups.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal earlier said the ministry would be split as per the directive of the Prime Minister. “It is expected that the split will streamline the home ministry and improve its functioning,” he said. At present, there are 257 posts in the home ministry, including those of senior secretary, five additional secretaries, 11 joint secretaries and 20 deputy secretaries. There are seven wings — administration, security and immigration, law and planning, police, political, Ansar and border, jail and narcotics control under the ministry. The ministry’s work is to provide security to life and property, maintain law and order, conduct rescue operations, investigate criminal cases, fight criminals, crimes and militancy, ensure humane treatment to prisoners, protect the border and coastal belt, check smuggling, formulate immigration and emigration related policies and combat trafficking of humans and drugs. The ministry of home affairs was set up in 1971 with the formation of the government-in-exile during the War of Liberation.