Country’s first drone border surveillance launched in Sylhet

The BGB has taken the initiative to use drones with thermal imaging and night vision facilities to increase surveillance in the country’s remote border areas. For this, the country’s first ‘Border School of Surveillance and Drone Warfare’ has been launched in Sylhet.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the training center at the Sylhet BGB sector headquarters on Tuesday. Later, he watched the activities of the training center, practical demonstrations of drones and exercises.

At the inauguration ceremony, the Home Minister said that digital surveillance, night vision and thermal imaging drones will be used in border areas where manual surveillance is difficult with manpower.

He said that through these technologies, it will be possible to identify people on the other side of the border, as well as detect cross-border crimes such as smuggling, drug and arms smuggling and human trafficking. Salahuddin Ahmed said that through this training center, skilled manpower will be created in the use of drones and digital surveillance technology.

In the future, opportunities will be created to monitor the situation in the border area from the border outpost, BGB headquarters and regional command level. The Home Minister also spoke about the initiative to manufacture and assemble drones in the country for the BGB.

He said, “We are assembling and manufacturing these ourselves here and in the future it can develop as a defense industry for us.” Stating that various types of modern drones from around the world have been kept in the training center, he said that it has not been possible to collect all types of advanced drones yet. However, efforts will be made to add more advanced drones here in the next one to two years.

He said that drones can be used not only for border surveillance, but also during disasters.
Drones can play an effective role in delivering relief and rescue work in remote areas.

He also said that BGB members have already used drones for such work. The Home Minister said that for now, the training program will be conducted for BGB members.

In the future, arrangements may be made to bring civilians under the training program as per the need and opportunity.

He said that this capability will be utilized for the security and development of the country as well as strengthening border security by increasing the use of technology.

At that time, Border Guard Bangladesh Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, OSP, BSP, SUP, BGBM, NDC, PSC, MPhil, besides the Region Commander, Sarail Region, senior officials of Headquarters BGB, Acting Commandant and Chief Instructor of SSSDW, senior military and civilian officials of Sylhet region, dignitaries and media personnel were present.

After announcing the auspicious inauguration, the Honorable Minister inspected the entire Complex & of SSSDW. At that time, Acting Commandant of SSSDW, Colonel Mohammad Salah Uddin, PSC informed the Minister about the various training and facilities of SSSDW established in Sylhet by the PSC, various drones used in BGB and future plans.

Then, with the participation of skilled and trained drone pilots of the BGB, Drone Maneuver and various exercises related to operational capabilities and the operational use of drones were demonstrated at the training ground. At the end of the exercise, the Honorable Minister participated in the press briefing.