SWAT (Bangladesh)

The Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) is the police tactical unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police of the Bangladesh Police. They operate under Special Action Group of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime.[3] The SWAT was formed to recover illegal arms and arrest hardcore terrorists and has a vital role in neutralizing any and all threats.[4][2]

Special Weapons And Tactics
বিশেষ অস্ত্র ও কার্যপদ্ধতি (সোয়াট)
AbbreviationSWAT
Agency overview
FormedFebruary 28, 2009[1]
Employees94 members[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionBangladesh
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
Operational structure
Overviewed byBangladesh Police
HeadquartersDhaka
Parent agencyDhaka Metropolitan Police
Members of Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT), Bangladesh

The SWAT has been regularly deployed outside of Dhaka to respond to terrorist incidents.[5][6] The Bangladesh Police plans to establish anti-terrorism operational units similar to SWAT in all of the Metropolitan Police.[7] A Crisis Response Team (CRT) has been established in Chittagong, Sylhet and in Rajshahi that were trained in the United States and in Jordan.[8]

History

The SWAT was established on 28 February 2009 as part of the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police under the control of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner.[9][10] The SWAT was to be ready for deployments on 1 March of that year in Dhaka and even outside if required.[9][10] The SWAT was to be more powerful than the Bangladesh Police Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and could be deployed to deal with terrorist groups and any criminals.[10]

The SWAT completed a 45 day training program conducted by nine United States experts from the Army, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Police which was financed by the United States.[9] The United States also provided equipment including M4 carbines, SR-25 sniper rifles and Glock 17 pistols.[11][12]

In 2016, the SWAT was placed under the command of the newly formed Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime.[13] In the same year, the SWAT had 50 members, with 20 new recruits to receive training in the United States with the SWAT aiming to expand to the unit to 100 members.[2]

In 2017, the United States Bureau of Diplomatic Security Anti-terrorism Assistance Program (ATA) trained nine SWAT instructors over 7 weeks who conducted two refresher Crisis Response Team courses for 42 SWAT members.[14][15]

Operations

The SWAT was deployed for security during the 2008 Bangladeshi general election, Pahela Baishakh and at Shaheed Minar during celebrations for International Mother Language Day.[16][17][18]

The SWAT has deployed to many militant attacks, including outside of Dhaka in 2017 to Chapainawabganj for Operation "Eagle Hunt" and to Chapainawabganj for Operation "Hit Back".[2][19][5][6][20] In July 2016, the SWAT responded to the Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack in Gulshan Thana with eight SWAT members seriously injured.[21][3]

See also

References
  1. "S W A T - Special Weapons And Tactics". Facebook. Bangladesh Police. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  2. Alam, Niloy; Al Hasnat, Mahadi (6 November 2016). "DMP: SWAT team will root out militancy and terrorism". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  3. Jamil Khan, Mohammad (16 September 2017). "Special Police, RAB Units: Home considers risk allowance". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  4. "US-trained SWAT more powerful than RAB underway". The New Nation. Archived from the original on 17 March 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  5. "SWAT resumes operation 'Eagle Hunt'". International Television Channel (NTV). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  6. "'Operation Hit Back' underway at Moulvibazar 'militant den'". The Daily Star. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  7. "Strategic Plan 2018-2020" (PDF). Bangladesh Police. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. "সিলেটে যাত্রা শুরু করল পুলিশের ক্রাইসিস রেসপন্স টিম". Kaler kantho (in Bengali). 29 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  9. "The Specialised Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) to launch special drive form March 1". The News Today. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 March 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  10. "US experts train SWAT men to fight hardcore criminals". The Daily Star. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  11. Hassan, Kamrul (1 February 2010). "জঙ্গি-সন্ত্রাস দমনে র‌্যাব-পুলিশকে অস্ত্র ও প্রশিক্ষণ দিচ্ছে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  12. "বাংলার সুপারহিরো সোয়াট". Sylhet Today. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  13. "DMP sets up counter terror unit". The Daily Star. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  14. "Ambassador Bernicat Attended the Graduation Ceremony of a Train-the-Trainer Course for Local SWAT Instructors". U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  15. "সোয়াট আরও শক্তিশালী হয়ে কাজ করবে". Dhaka Metropolitan Police (in Bengali). 25 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  16. "DMP takes foolproof security measures for Pahela Baishakh celebrations". UNB. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012.
  17. "DMP asks people to leave Ramna by 5pm". New Age. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  18. "Nation set to observe Amar Ekushey". New Age. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  19. "চাঁপাইনবাবগঞ্জে জঙ্গি আস্তানায় চলছে 'অপারেশন ঈগল হান্ট'". Dhaka Metropolitan Police. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  20. "সোয়াটের 'অপারেশন হিটব্যাক': পালাতে না পেরে জঙ্গিদের আত্মহনন". Dhaka Metropolitan Police (in Bengali). 30 May 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  21. "Bloody end to Dhaka hostage crisis". The Daily Star. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
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