A proposal to recruit 2,526 additional personnel for the Tourist Police is currently under consideration by the Ministry of Public Administration to enhance security and service quality across tourist destinations.
Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) GM Azizur Rahman disclosed this information while speaking as a special guest at a discussion and Bangladesh Tourism Award presentation ceremony held at the China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Saturday evening to mark World Tourism Day.
Highlighting the critical role of safety in sustainable tourism development, Azizur Rahman emphasised that tourists prioritize personal security alongside natural beauty, culture, and entertainment when selecting a destination, UNB reports.
He described the Tourist Police as a visible public service institution that provides security, information, and emergency assistance at tourist sites.
Established in 2013, the Tourist Police currently operates across 32 districts and 130 tourist destinations.
In the first eight months of this year, over 10,000 foreign tourists visited the areas under its jurisdiction.
During this same eight-month period, the Tourist Police reunited 365 missing children with their families, rescued 31 people alive from dangerous situations, and arrested 92 individuals involved in crimes and harassment.
Additionally, officers recovered lost personal belongings for visitors, including mobile phones, bags, and financial funds.
The World Tourism Day event was chaired by Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhter and featured a welcome address delivered by Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Barrister Motasim Billah Faruqui.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Other notable attendees present as special guests included Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, Ministry Additional Secretary Md Abdur Rouf, and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md. Samimuzzaman.
