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Published : 02 Feb 2026, 11:55 PM
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will requisition some 5,000 vehicles, including private cars, for election duties, according to officers.
Despite a High Court ruling barring the requisition of privately owned vehicles, the DMP is moving ahead with plans to include them if required for election operations.
“The requisition process is set to start from Feb 7,” a DMP officer said, adding that privately used cars could be brought under requisition if necessary.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Anisur Rahman told bdnews24.com that roughly 2,400 buses, 30 trucks, nearly 1,100 legunas, and more than 1,000 microbuses will be requisitioned.
“These vehicles are being requisitioned for nine agencies, including the police, Army, Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and telecommunications services,” he said.
The requisition is being carried out under Section 103A of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976, which allows the police commissioner to requisition vehicles for up to seven days “in public interest”.
According to the 2019 High Court verdict, private cars, CNG-powered autorickshaws, and taxis were exempt from requisition.
When asked about the apparent conflict, Anisur described the ruling as “an observation” and said the DMP is not violating any rules.
He added that privately owned cars can be requisitioned if required by the government.
Vehicle owners are being served formal letters specifying the date, time, and location where the vehicles must be presented.
Some vehicles will be used for three to five days, while others may be requisitioned as late as Feb 9.
Owners will be compensated according to existing rules, and drivers will receive meals during duty hours. The police have not specified how compensation will be calculated or how vehicle damage will be assessed.
A Jan 6 circular from the home ministry instructed law-enforcing agencies to prioritise using their own vehicles and to requisition private or hired vehicles only when necessary and in line with procedure.
Police have not disclosed which areas of Dhaka are affected, the notice period owners are entitled to under the ordinance, or the formula for compensation.
[Additional reporting by Mortuza Haider and Moinul Hoque Chowdhury]
