DHAKA, July 6, 2026 (BSS) - A new Industrial Police unit will begin operations in Mirsharai, Chattogram, this month, further strengthening security and law enforcement in one of Bangladesh's fastest-growing industrial hubs.

"A new Industrial Police unit will start operation in Mirsharai of Chattogram this month," Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Gazi Jashim Uddin told BSS.

He said the government has allocated 160 police personnel for the new unit to support the rapidly expanding industrial zone, although authorities had earlier sought a significantly larger workforce to meet operational requirements.

The move is part of the Industrial Police's broader expansion plan aimed at enhancing labour law enforcement, worker safety and industrial security across the country's major industrial belts.

Established on October 31, 2010, the Industrial Police is a specialised unit of Bangladesh Police tasked with maintaining law and order in industrial areas, protecting workers and investors, and ensuring a safe, stable and production-friendly environment.

The force was created in response to recurring labour unrest, particularly in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, and operates under the Industrial Police Rules, 2017, with its headquarters currently located in Uttara, Dhaka.

Despite its expanding responsibilities, the force continues to face manpower and infrastructure shortages.

Jashim Uddin said the Industrial Police currently has around 3,500 personnel against an approved strength of 4,200 for its nine units, leaving the force short of the manpower required to effectively ensure industrial security nationwide.

The force currently operates four full-fledged units in Ashulia-Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram, while additional units are functioning in Khulna, Sylhet, Cumilla and Mymensingh.

The Sylhet and Cumilla units are being run by superintendent-level officers on deputation from other police units, while the Mymensingh unit continues to operate with limited manpower.

To strengthen operational capacity, Bangladesh Police has proposed establishing five dedicated Industrial Police lines in Ashulia-Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram and Mymensingh.

"Since its establishment in 2010, the Industrial Police has not had any dedicated police lines of its own," Jashim said.

He said a proposal has already been submitted to the Home Ministry seeking land allocation for the facilities, while the Department of Architecture is preparing the designs.

Authorities have also proposed establishing a full-fledged Industrial Police unit in Khulna. The existing Khulna unit, along with its sub-units in Mongla and Jashore, currently operates from a temporary office inside a jute mill.

The Industrial Police headquarters has also been operating from rented premises in Uttara since its inception. Officials believe a permanent headquarters is essential to improve operational efficiency and support the force's expanding responsibilities.

The force also plans to expand its presence in northern Bangladesh, where labour unrest has periodically affected industrial establishments, particularly in Rangpur and Nilphamari.

According to Jashim Uddin, a proposal to establish a separate Industrial Police unit in Bogura to strengthen the force's ability to respond swiftly to labour disputes in the region, did not get government nod yet. 

Official statistics show Bangladesh has nearly 6,000 ready-made garment factories and other industrial establishments employing more than four million workers.

The country's industrial sector, led by the RMG industry, generates an estimated US$55 billion to US$60 billion in annual export earnings, highlighting the importance of maintaining a secure and stable industrial environment.