A Correspondent:
Sylhet: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed yesterday said the use of modern drone technology would make more effective and easier the overall border management, security and surveillance, particularly in remote and forest-covered areas.
“In remote and forest-covered areas of the border, where it is extremely difficult to ensure security with personnel on the ground, round-the-clock modern digital surveillance will be conducted using drones equipped with night vision and thermal technology,” he said.
“This use of thermal technology will make it easier to monitor activities of the other side across the border even in the dark of night, and to identify routes used for smuggling, drugs and illegal arms and prevent them,” the minister added.
Salahuddin made the remarks at a press briefing after inaugurating the ‘School of Surveillance and Drone Warfare (SSSDW)’ at the Sylhet Sector Headquarters of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in the city yesterday morning.
He inaugurated the specialized training centre by unveiling its plaque as the chief guest.
The minister said that along with border security, the technological capabilities of drones are also playing an effective role in addressing natural and humanitarian disasters.
He said that recently, BGB members have successfully used drones to conduct rescue operations in remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and deliver relief materials directly to remote points.
Salahuddin said BGB members are currently receiving border surveillance and drone warfare train-ing at the drone school, but the training program will be expanded in future to equip civilian per-sonnel with advanced technology and drone operation skills.
He also said all the latest drone technologies in the world would be incorporated into the training institution within the next one to two years to enhance the country’s overall security and capabili-ties.
Replying to a question from journalists about prosecution of drug cases and people disrupting law and order, the minister said the Narcotics Control Act has been updated and the effectiveness of the force is being enhanced manifold through laboratories, lock-ups, dog squads and modern weapons at the district level.
At the same time, he said, any attempt to create a mob to obstruct the legal process would be dealt with iron hand under the existing law.
BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui delivered the welcome address at the event while BGB Sylhet Sector Commander Colonel Mohammad Salahuddin deliv-ered the opening remarks.
Before the inauguration, the minister was given a detailed briefing on the overall aspects of the specialized training program of the ‘School of Surveillance and Drone Warfare (SSSDW)’.
After the inauguration, the minister visited the drone school complex and display centre. Later, he witnessed a realistic operational exercise and a dynamic drone display conducted by BGB.
Senior military and civilian officials from BGB Headquarters and the local administration, as well as representatives of various media outlets were present at the inaugural function.
The SSSDW has started its journey as a specialized training school or centre of BGB with the aim of making Bangladesh’s border security system more modern, information-based and technology-enabled.
The inauguration of the centre opened up a new avenue for using modern aerial drone technology in remote and vulnerable border areas.
