Special Security Force

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Special Security Force
স্পেশাল সিকিউরিটি ফোর্স
Seal of the Special Security Force (SSF).svg
Seal of the Special Security Force
Insignia of the Special Security Force.svg
Insignia of the Special Security Force
Flag of the Special Security Force (SSF).svg
Flag of the Special Security Force
AbbreviationSSF
MottoAllah is the best protector
Agency overview
Formed15 June, 1986
EmployeesClassified
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Bangladesh
Operational structure
Headquarters SSF Headquarters, Dhaka
Agency executive
Website
ssf.gov.bd

The Special Security Force (SSF) is a Bangladeshi law enforcement agency that provides protection to the President of Bangladesh, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu family and any person designated as a VVIP as per state protocol, including visiting foreign dignitaries. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Responsibility

Special Security Force personnel providing protection Ssfpic1.jpg
Special Security Force personnel providing protection

The mission of the SSF is to provide physical security to the President of Bangladesh, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu family and any person designated as a very very important person (VVIP) by the Government of Bangladesh. The SSF takes necessary measures in coordination with the civil administration and security and intelligence organizations to prevent future threats to VVIPs and protect VVIPs from active threats. The SSF is also responsible for the security of VVIPs’ offices and residences. [4]

History

The idea of establishing a security force in Bangladesh for physical protection of VIPs was first mooted by the then-President Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Accordingly, the Presidential Security Force (PSF) was formed on 15 June 1986. Later, with the introduction of a parliamentary system of government in Bangladesh, the force was renamed as the Special Security Force on 27 September 1991.

The Presidential Security Force Ordinance (PSFO) established a security force which is to be under the direct command of the president and controlled and administered by a director, who may be invested with the powers of the Chief of Army Staff in respect of operations of the SSF. The force may seek the assistance of other services, such as law enforcement agencies, paramilitary forces and defence and intelligence agencies.

Members of the SSF are referred to as Agents, and are officers from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Ansar and the Village Defence Party. Persons from other ranks also actively support the organization.

The force was originally intended to provide physical security, both to the president wherever they may be and to VIPs, including any head of state or government or any person declared to be a VIP by the government. Following restoration of the parliamentary system, it was renamed the Special Security Force, whose primary function is to protect the prime minister, the president and other VIPs. Its work also includes "collecting and communicating intelligence affecting the physical security of the prime minister, the president or a VIP" (Section 8).

The SSF is now accountable to the prime minister under the present parliamentary system, and is given the power to arrest without warrant any person when there is reason to believe that the presence or movement of such person at or near the place where the prime minister, the president or a VIP is living or staying or through which he is passing or about to pass is prejudicial to the physical security of the prime minister, the president or such VIP; and if such person forcibly resists the endeavor to arrest him or attempts to evade arrest, such officer may use all means necessary to effect the arrest and may, if necessary and after giving such warning as may be appropriate in the circumstances of the case or otherwise so, use force against him as to cause death" (Section 8).

The wide and unfettered powers granted to the authorities above under the Special Security Force Ordinance (SSFO) enacted in 1986 are exacerbated by Section 11, which prevents prosecutions for such acts without government sanction.

In 2021, a bill was passed in the Parliament known as The Special Security Force Bill, 2021. This made the SSF responsible for providing security to the family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The following year, a Mujib Corner had been opened at the Special Security Force headquarters under the Director General Mujibur Rahman.

Organization

SSF personnel on duty Ssfpic.jpg
SSF personnel on duty

The SSF Headquarters is located at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The SSF maintains an independent training complex and accommodations of its own, co-located near the headquarters.

Commanded by a director-general (equivalent in rank to a brigadier general or major general), the SSF is organized into five administrative bureaus:

List of Director General of Special Security Force

Sl #NameTerm StartTerm EndReference
1Brigadier General Jahangir Kabir1 July 198619 December 1987 [5]
2Brigadier General Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury 19 December 198713 June 1988 [5]
3Brigadier General Kazi Mahmud Hassan13 June 19884 November 1991 [6] [5]
4Brigadier General Jamiluddin Ahsan Bir Protik19 October 199126 July 1996 [7] [5]
5Major General NA Rafiqul Hossain1 July 199616 February 2001 [5]
6Brigadier General SM Shabuddin31 January 200111 November 2001 [5]
7Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi 31 October 20018 February 2007 [5]
8Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam 8 February 200720 April 2008 [5]
9Major General Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf24 April 20088 January 2009 [5]
10Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin 19 January 200927 November 2011 [5]
11Major General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy 27 November 201110 October 2012 [5]
12Major General Sheikh Mohammad Aman Hasan 10 October 201210 April 2016 [5]
13Major General Md. Shafiqur Rahman 10 April 20166 August 2018 [5]
14Major General Mojibur Rahman 6 August 2018 [8] [9]

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References

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