The Special Security Force (; abbreviated as SSF) is a Bangladeshi law enforcement force that provides protection to the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Adviser as well as any person designated as a VVIP as per state protocol, including visiting foreign dignitaries.

Responsibility

The mission of the SSF is to provide physical security to the President of Bangladesh, Prime Minister of Bangladesh 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.

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, Bangladesh Ansar and 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 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The following year, a Mujib Corner had been opened at the Special Security Force headquarters under the Director General Mujibur Rahman. On 29 August 2024, the interim government issued an ordinance revoking this law providing special security privileges to the family of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under which it was enacted in 2009 and 2021.

As other than protecting a Head of state, SSF also has to protect VVIP persons ordered by the nation. Muhammad Yunus, the former Chief Adviser of Interim government was given the VVIP status for one year in 2026. Due to the status, SSF forces could had to safeguard Muhammad Yunus for a time period.

Organization

The SSF Headquarters is located at the Prime Minister 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: Tactical Support Team Operation and Protection Bureau Intelligence Bureau Logistics Bureau Training Bureau

Weapons +S1 #NameTypeCaliberOriginReference1Beretta 92Semi-automatic pistol9mmItaly

List of director generals of Special Security Force +Sl #NameTerm startTerm endReference1Brigadier General Jahangir Kabir1 July 198619 December 19872Brigadier General Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury19 December 198713 June 19883Brigadier General Kazi Mahmud Hassan13 June 19884 November 19914Brigadier General Jamilud Din Ahsan19 October 199126 July 19965Major General Nurul Ahmed Rafiqul Hossain1 July 199616 February 20016Brigadier General Syed Mohammed Shabuddin31 January 200111 November 20017Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi31 October 20018 February 20078Major General Sheikh Monirul Islam8 February 200720 April 20089Major General Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf24 April 20088 January 200910Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin19 January 200927 November 201111Major General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy27 November 201110 October 201212Major General Aman Hasan10 October 201210 April 201613Major General Shafiqur Rahman 10 April 20166 August 201814Major General Mujibur Rahman6 August 201825 February 202415Major General Nazmul Hasan26 February 202420 August 202416Major General Mahbubus Samad Chowdhury20 August 2024present

References

External links

Amendment of Special Security Force Ordinance XLIII of 1986