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Wednesday | November 04, 2026 | Dhaka

Too few hands, too few wheels to police Khulna highways

Only 340 personnel serve across four districts, while nine pickup vans and a mini-truck cater to 10 operational units
 Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna
 Published: 12:02 AM, 04 November 2026

The Khulna Regional Highway Police is struggling to ensure round-the-clock security and regular patrolling across its extensive highway network with just 340 personnel and a limited fleet of government vehicles, prompting the need for 400 to 500 additional personnel and new patrol vehicles.

The manpower shortage has made it increasingly difficult to maintain effective surveillance, prevent accidents and ensure smooth traffic movement on major highways across Khulna, Jashore, Bagerhat and Satkhira.

Mohammad Zakaria, superintendent of police (SP) of Khulna Regional Highway Police, who has recently been promoted to additional deputy inspector general (DIG), told The New Nation that the regional unit currently has only nine double-cabin pickup vans and one mini-truck to serve its three police stations, five outposts and two camps.

The limited number of vehicles poses a significant challenge to regular patrol operations across the region’s highway network, particularly on major routes such as the Dhaka–Khulna, Khulna–Mongla and Jashore–Benapole highways.

Highway police personnel are responsible for maintaining road security, preventing highway crimes, managing traffic and responding to accidents. However, the shortage of manpower and transport facilities has constrained their ability to provide round-the-clock surveillance across the extensive network.

Sources concerned said the regional unit needs at least 400 to 500 additional personnel to strengthen its operations. It also requires 25 to 30 additional vehicles, including double-cabin pickup trucks, alongside a substantial number of motorcycles for effective patrolling. Speedboats may also be necessary in areas where waterways form part of the operational network.

Meanwhile, a proposal to recruit 6,000 additional highway police personnel nationwide and increase the number of vehicles has reportedly been placed to strengthen highway security.

However, the final allocation of additional personnel and vehicles for the Khulna region will depend on the specific requirements submitted by the relevant authorities and subsequent government approval.

The proposed expansion is expected to strengthen highway surveillance, improve emergency response and help ensure safer journeys for commuters and transport operators across the region.