DB's K-9 unit to start formal operation from Pahela Baishakh

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has formed a new unit, ‘K-9’, that features trained dogs to carry out specific tasks such as detecting firearms, explosives or narcotics as well as searching venues.

 

The K-9 unit-- the name derived from the word ‘canine’-- is scheduled to formally go on operation from Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, on April 14, reports UNB.

 

Sources at the DB headquarters said the new unit will initially be comprised of 25 members-- from the ranks of additional deputy commissioner (ADC) to constable-- along with 10 dogs.

 

The number of dogs in the special unit will be increased gradually.

 

Among the pet animals, dog has the highest sniffing power. After providing necessary training, the pet animal can be used in conducting search operation against illegal firearms, explosives or narcotics using its sniffing power.

 

The progenies in the unit include four German Shepherds and six Labradors, imported from Germany at a cost of around Tk 1 crore in October last year. Each dog was around eight weeks’ old. 

 

The 10 dogs have been trained since the 1st week of the current month when the dogs became one year old.

 

Five policemen, who received special dog handler’s training in the UK, have been involved in the dog training, taking place on the Public Order and Management (POM) Division premises in Mirpur-14 area of the city where a Dog Kennel was built for this purposes.

 

ADC Sanwar Hossain of the DB, who is leading the newly formed K-9 unit, told that the dog training will be completed by March, and the unit can go for formal operation from Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, on April 14.

 

The unit will search and patrol different areas, including Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University campus and its adjoining places to avert any untoward incident as thousands of people will gather around the area to celebrate the Bengali New year, he added.

 

On completion of the training, the dogs of the unit can easily detect the presence of illegal narcotics, firearms and explosives kept inside packets or hidden in any place using its sniffing powers, he said.

 

"If any explosive substance is planted anywhere, the trained dogs can be used to identify it and also to haunt any explosive or illegal firearm carrier by foot patrolling," he added.

 

ADC Sanwar noted that searching venues using dogs is more accurate compared to using metal detectors. “So, we’ll get additional benefit from the dogs to sweep any venue,” he said.