(BSS) - The Home Ministry has proposed an allocation of Tk 6,608.14 crore to procure 5,830 vehicles for Bangladesh Police, aiming to address longstanding fleet shortages, improve emergency response and strengthen law enforcement operations nationwide.

The ministry has placed two projects for consideration by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

The ECNEC meeting will be held on October 25 at Bangladesh Secretariat with its Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presiding.

Of the proposed investment, Tk 4,328 crore would go towards procuring 4,829 operational vehicles, while Tk 2,280.14 crore would be spent on 1,001 specialised vehicles.

Both projects are scheduled for implementation from October 2026 to June 2029, with the entire cost to be financed by the government.

The proposed procurement comes amid a significant gap between the police force`s existing vehicle fleet and its operational requirements.

The country`s 639 administrative police stations currently have 1,237 vehicles to serve an area of around 147,000 square kilometres, according to the project proposal.

With fewer than two vehicles per station on average and around 64 percent of the existing fleet more than a decade old, police face challenges in maintaining regular patrols, responding to emergencies and deploying personnel where they are needed most.

The proposed investment is expected to improve mobility and operational readiness, enabling police units to respond more effectively to crime, public disorder and security threats.

The specialised vehicle project focuses on equipment for specific law enforcement needs, including riot control vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, mobile command centres and crime scene vans.

These would support crowd management, operations in remote areas, field coordination and evidence collection during criminal investigations.

The modernisation plan also identifies the need for speedboats and country boats to strengthen policing across Bangladesh`s extensive river network.

The watercraft would support waterway patrols, protection of key point installations, counterterrorism operations and emergency rescue missions.

Alongside vehicle procurement, both projects include training to develop the skills required to operate and maintain the expanded fleet.

Under the operational vehicle project, 650 personnel would receive light-vehicle driving and mechanics training, 300 would undergo heavy-vehicle driving and mechanics training, and another 50 would receive vehicle mechanic training.

The specialised vehicle project provides driving and mechanics training for 910 personnel and mechanic training for a further 50. The operational project also includes Tk 1.5 crore for vehicle maintenance and repair tools and equipment.

The proposed combined expenditure is Tk 2,080.94 crore in fiscal year 2026–27, Tk 2,867.55 crore in 2027–28 and Tk 1,660.58 crore in 2028–29.

Feasibility studies for both projects were conducted by Hawk`s Bay. Their economic assessments each report a benefit-cost ratio of 1.05, indicating that projected economic benefits marginally exceed estimated costs under the assumptions used.

The estimated net present value is Tk 19.22 crore for the operational vehicle project and Tk 176.096 crore for the specialised vehicle project, with the latter calculated using a 12 percent discount rate.

The revised Development Project Proposal for the operational vehicle project was reviewed at a Project Evaluation Committee meeting on October 15, 2026.

Following the committee`s recommendations, foreign training was excluded and the proposal was revised to comply with Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority and Finance Division regulations.

It was also aligned with the election manifesto.

The specialised vehicle project has separately been recommended for ECNEC consideration following a review by the Planning Commission`s Physical Infrastructure Division.

Neither project has received final approval, and implementation remains subject to ECNEC`s decision.

If approved, the projects would significantly expand the resources available to police across the country.

The extent to which the investment improves public safety will depend on effective procurement, needs-based deployment, proper maintenance and the ability to translate greater mobility into faster responses and more effective policing.