Govt expands cyber labs, police capabilities to combat rising cybercrime
The government is expanding digital forensic and cyber laboratories and strengthening police training and technological capabilities to tackle the growing threat of cybercrime.
As part of the initiative, digital forensic and cyber labs will be inaugurated in Dhaka and Chattogram next October, while work is underway to establish a specialised Cyber Security Unit within the police with dedicated infrastructure to investigate cyber fraud, hacking and other crimes committed through digital devices and networks.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said a gazette was published on September 21 for the formation of the specialised unit.
The government is also pursuing greater international cooperation on cyber security, with Bangladesh and China holding bilateral discussions and exploring joint initiatives on technological expertise, cybercrime prevention and visits to advanced forensic laboratories.
CID Special Superintendent (Media) Md Sufi Ullah told BSS that cases involving cyber fraud, hacking and online harassment received by the CID are being investigated professionally and necessary legal action is being taken.
He said new modules on cybercrime investigation are being incorporated into ongoing training at the Cyber Training Centre, Forensic Training Institute (FTI) and Detective Training School (DTS).
“A nationwide Cyber Training of Trainers (ToT) course has also recently been launched under an initiative of the Police Headquarters, with CID officers participating in the programme,” he said.
According to CID data, 191 cybercrime cases—32 GR and 159 CR—were filed between September 1, 2025 and September 23, 2026, while 101 people were arrested during the period.
Police said cybercriminals are increasingly using hacking, fake links and websites to gain unauthorised access to Facebook, email and bank accounts and steal passwords and personal information.
Identity and National ID fraud, online blackmail, threats and defamation are also among the emerging forms of cybercrime.
DMP Detective Branch chief Additional Police Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said cybercriminals were being brought under the law, stressing that police remained alert to prevent crimes and ensure public safety.
To strengthen field-level investigation, a 10-day specialised ToT course on cybercrime case investigation was recently held at the Police Staff College in Mirpur, training 332 police officers who will subsequently train investigators across the country.
IGP Md Ali Hossain Fakir inaugurated the programme.
DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Md Akter Hossain said police were working with responsibility and sincerity to combat cybercrime and bring offenders to justice swiftly.
He said the DB already has a cyber lab, while approval has been given to establish a forensic lab at the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit.
Relevant DMP personnel will also receive specialised training in digital case investigation, he added.
DMP data show that from January 1 this year, Ramna Division recorded 88 cybercrime cases and 163 arrests, Lalbagh 22 cases and 23 arrests, Wari 12 cases and 24 arrests, Motijheel 33 cases and 49 arrests, Tejgaon 53 cases and 49 arrests, Mirpur 33 cases and 27 arrests, Gulshan 38 cases and 37 arrests, and Uttara 26 cases and 34 arrests.
Police are also conducting awareness campaigns through community policing to alert people to online blackmail, fake links and financial fraud.
Officials said cybercrime is rising particularly in areas such as hacking, financial fraud and crimes targeting women and children.
A new trend involves the use of AI-generated voices and video cloning (deepfakes) to impersonate acquaintances on social media and messaging platforms and trick victims into transferring money.
Police said the growing use of digital platforms for fraud makes stronger technological capacity, specialised investigation and greater public awareness increasingly important in tackling cybercrime.
