DMP to Requisition 5,000 Vehicles

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced plans to requisition approximately 5,000 vehicles to support security and logistical operations during the forthcoming national election in the capital. The requisitioning drive is expected to begin on 7 February and will cover a wide range of vehicle types, including buses, lorries, minibuses and microbuses. Officials have indicated that privately owned vehicles may also be included if operational requirements demand it, notwithstanding previous judicial observations discouraging the use of private cars for requisition.

According to the DMP’s Additional Commissioner (Traffic), Anisur Rahman, the vehicles will be deployed not only for police operations but also for a total of nine agencies tasked with election-related duties. These include the armed forces, Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and several bodies within the telecommunications sector responsible for maintaining network stability and emergency communications during polling. The aim is to ensure rapid mobility of personnel, secure transportation of election materials, and swift response to any disturbance.

Estimated vehicles to be requisitioned

The Ministry of Home Affairs earlier issued a circular outlining the deployment of law enforcement agencies for election duties, advising each body to prioritise the use of its own fleet. Where that proves insufficient, agencies may lawfully requisition or hire vehicles in accordance with existing regulations. Police officials argue that such measures are unavoidable this year due to persistent shortages in the DMP’s own transport capacity.

Those shortages stem in part from extensive damage and losses during episodes of violence in recent years, when several police stations in Dhaka were attacked, torched or looted. The force has since struggled to replenish its fleet at the pace required for large-scale security operations. As election periods demand heightened patrols, escort duties and rapid-response coverage, officials contend that requisitioning remains the only practical way to meet operational needs.

The duration of requisition is expected to vary. Some vehicles may be taken for three days, others for five, and a limited number could remain in service until 9 February. The law permits requisition for up to seven days under written orders from the Police Commissioner when required in the public interest. Owners are entitled to compensation, and DMP has pledged to provide written requisition notices specifying the date, time and location for vehicle handover. Any damage incurred during service will be compensated, and basic provisions for drivers, including meals, will be arranged.

The plan has revived debate over a High Court ruling that previously advised excluding private cars, CNG-powered autorickshaws and taxis from requisition lists. Police officials maintain that the judgment contained observations rather than an absolute prohibition and that private vehicles may be requisitioned if strictly necessary for state purposes. However, details regarding the precise compensation rates, notice periods, and geographic scope of requisition have yet to be fully disclosed, leaving vehicle owners seeking greater clarity on how the policy will be implemented in practice.