Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has launched the country’s first Border School of Surveillance and Drone Warfare (SSSDW) in Sylhet to strengthen surveillance along remote and difficult border areas.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the training centre at the Sylhet BGB sector headquarters on Tuesday. He later witnessed drone manoeuvres, practical demonstrations and operational exercises by trained BGB personnel.

The centre will train personnel to operate drones equipped with thermal imaging, night vision and digital surveillance systems, allowing BGB to monitor areas where conventional manpower-based surveillance is difficult. According to The New Nation, the technology is expected to help detect cross-border crimes, including smuggling, drug and arms trafficking, and human trafficking.

The minister said the initiative would also help create skilled manpower and eventually allow border monitoring from border outposts, BGB headquarters and regional command centres.

He said Bangladesh was also working towards assembling and manufacturing drones locally, which could eventually contribute to the development of a domestic defence industry.

The minister added that drones could be used beyond border security, particularly for disaster response, relief delivery and rescue operations in remote areas.

Initially, the training programme will be limited to BGB personnel, though civilians could be included in the future depending on requirements.

BOB Post