Armed Police Battalion
Specialised unit of the Bangladesh Police
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Armed Police Battalion (APBn) is a specialised combat unit of the Bangladesh Police.[2][3] It is headquartered in Dhaka.[4] The unit has 11 battalions under its command and the Special Security and Protection Battalion has two battalions.[5] Airport Armed Police Battalion is responsible for protecting the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.[6]
| Armed Police Battalion আর্মড পুলিশ ব্যাটালিয়ন | |
|---|---|
Insignia of Armed Police Battalion | |
| Abbreviation | APBn |
| Motto | অপরাজেয় Unbeatable |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1 October, 1975 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | Bangladesh |
| Operations jurisdiction | Bangladesh |
| Size | 148,460 km2 (57,320 sq mi) |
| Population | 162 million[1] |
| Governing body | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Constituting instruments |
|
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | APBn Complex, Uttara, Dhaka |
| Elected officer responsible | |
| Agency executive | |
| Parent agency | Bangladesh Police |
| Facilities | |
| Battalions | 12 battalion |
| Armored vehicles | Otokar Cobra, IAG Guardian, STREIT Typhoon |
| Helicopters | Bell 407 |
| Website | |
| apbn | |
| Service uniform: Yankees Blue, Light French Beige Combat uniform: Dolphin Gray, Pale Spring Bud, Indigo, Royal Brown | |
History
The Armed Police Battalion was formed on 1 October 1975 as a specialized force of the Bangladesh Police through The Armed Police Battalion Ordinance 1979.[7][5][8] Rapid Action Battalion was created under the same ordinance in 2006 through the Armed Police Battalions (Amendment) Act, 2003.[9] Armed Police Battalion-6 was established in 1976 in Barisal originally as a river battalion.[7] Armed Police Battalion-4 was raised in 1979 in Bogura.[7]
On 1 October 1981, the Armed Police Battalion-9 was established.[7] It was moved to Khagrachar in 1987.[7] It was moved to Barisal in 1989, Bilaichari in 1993, Khulna in 1996, Mohalchari in 2000, Uttara in 2003, and finally settled in Chittagong on 5 October 2009.[7]
Armed Police Battalion-3 was established 17 July 2006 in Khulna.[7]
In June 2010, Armed Police Battalion was deployed to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.[10]
On 21 June 2011 Armed Police Battalion launched its first all women personal unit.[11] On 26 December, Special Security and Protection Battalion was established to provide security to VIPs of the government and foreign diplomats.[7]
Officers from the Armed Police Battalion have received training at the National Security Guard Centre in India as a part of a government plan in the aftermath of the July 2016 Dhaka attack to form a commando units in every police range and metropolitan area in Bangladesh.[12]
In January 2019, sub-inspector of Armed Police Battalion-7 was arrested in Sylhet for operating a child prostitution ring with 12 year old girls.[13]
The Bangladesh Police Swimming Complex was opened in November 2019. It was built at the Armed Police Battalion headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka, at a cost of 20 crore Bangladeshi taka (US$2.36 million in 2019).[14]
Rohingya camps
In July 2020, Armed Police Battalion was tasked with providing security in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar District and reduce crimes committed by the refugees.[15][16] Two special battalions, Armed Police Battalion-14 and Armed Police Battalion-16, were created for the task with 1176 personnel.[15] Armed Police Battalion-14 was established in 2016 and Armed Police Battalion-16 was established in 2019.[15][17] The unit has faced accusations of violating human rights at the camp by the refugees and in a report by the Human Rights Watch.[18] The accusations against the Armed Police Battalion included extortion and torture.[19][20][21]
In January 2023, the government of Bangladesh announced plans to deploy Armed Police Battalion-18, Armed Police Battalion-19, and Armed Police Battalion-20 in Chittagong Hill Tracts in camps vacated by Bangladesh Army under the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.[22]
Units
- Armed Police Battalion-1 at Uttara.[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-2 at Muktagachha, Mymensingh[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-3 in Khulna[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-4 in Bogura[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-5 at Uttara[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-6 in Barisal[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-7 at Uttara[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-8 at Uttara[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-9 in Chittagong[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-10 at Mohalchhari in Khagrachhari[7]
- Armed Police Battalion-11 (women) at Uttara[7]
- Special Security and Protection Battalion-1 and 2, Uttara[7]