Security Guard Services in Bangladesh

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Bangladesh

Private security services in Bangladesh are regulated by the Private Security Services Act, 2006 (Act No. 11 of 2006). Licenses are issued to security companies, not to individual guards, and a licensed company must verify, train and register every guard it employs.

Regulator: Licensing authority under the Private Security Services Act, 2006: the District Magistrate in districts and the Police Commissioner in metropolitan areas. Law: Private Security Services Act, 2006 (Act No. 11 of 2006), dated 23 February 2006. bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-print-935.html

Requirements

• Minimum age 18 (Section 9(1))
• Must be a citizen of Bangladesh (Section 9(1))
• Must be physically and mentally fit (Section 9(1))
• A person convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to imprisonment of not less than two years is ineligible unless five years have passed since release; a person dismissed from a government or statutory body for misconduct or corruption is also ineligible (Section 9(1))
• Before hiring, the employer must verify the person’s identity and past conduct through the police or another government agency and through the local Union Parishad chairman or the ward commissioner of the municipality or city corporation (Section 9(2))
• Adequate training must be completed before deployment; the Act does not set any number of training hours (Section 9(3))
• The Act does not set any educational qualification
• The employer must keep a register of guards and staff with their names, addresses, photographs and résumés, provide a copy to the local police station and report any change to the police station within 7 days (Section 9(4))

Application Steps

1. Apply for a job with a security company licensed under the 2006 Act (guards do not receive a license in their own name)
2. Provide proof of meeting the age, citizenship and fitness requirements
3. The employer verifies the applicant’s identity and background through the police or a government agency and local government officials
4. Complete the employer’s training before deployment
5. The employer enters the guard in its register and submits a copy to the local police station

Agency Licensing

A security company must apply in the prescribed form to the licensing authority (the District Magistrate, or the Police Commissioner in metropolitan areas) (Sections 5 and 6). An officer inspects the premises and verifies the application. If the conditions are met, the license is granted within 30 days after payment of the prescribed security deposit and fee. The applicant may be given up to 15 days to correct deficiencies, and if the application is rejected, an appeal may be made to the Government within 30 days. An individual license holder must be a Bangladeshi citizen aged at least 25, of sound mind, not an undischarged bankrupt, not a loan defaulter and registered for income tax and VAT. A company must be registered in Bangladesh, and the conviction-related conditions also apply to its owners and officers (Section 7). Operating the business without a license is punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of Tk 5 lakh to Tk 10 lakh, or both (Section 17(1)).

No person or private security company may be licensed for firearms, weapons or ammunition (Section 12(1)). For cash transport and permanent duties at banks and financial institutions, the Director General of Ansar and VDP may, at the company’s request, deploy armed Ansar members in accordance with the rules (Section 12(2)).

A company license is valid for two years and renewable every two years (Section 15). An application for renewal must be made with the prescribed fee at least 30 days before expiry, together with proof of compliance with the conditions, an annual report, an audit report and up-to-date tax and VAT certificates. The authority decides within 30 days, and the license remains valid while renewal is under consideration (Section 15).

Sources

• Laws of Bangladesh (Ministry of Law): Private Security Services Act, 2006 (Act No. 11 of 2006)
• Prothom Alo: Private security sector at a glance
• The Financial Express article: The state of private security services industry in Bangladesh

Requirements change. Confirm current rules with the relevant government authority before applying. This summary is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.