Sources in the ministry of Home Affairs said the cabinet approved the proposal sent it to ministry of Law and Parliament Affairs for vetting. On completion of the examination the Law Ministry it will be sent to the cabinet for final approval to produce it in Parliament to formulate it as an Act.

The proposed law includes licensing of security agencies under home ministry, police verification report regarding the information provided by recruits, character certificates from their respective local governments, internal verification department within the agency and official dress approved by the home ministry.

"As soon as the law ministry examines or completes the vetting we will be able to forward it to cabinet for the next step," said an official of the home ministry requesting not be named.

"The proposed act considers five to 10 years' imprisonment and Tk 10 lakh in fine in case of false information," the official said.

Police officials affirmed that criminals aided by the private security guards commit crime, like robbery and murders, as most agencies do not have information on their recruits.

A total of 60 private security agencies in the capital alone are registered with Bangladesh Professional Security Providers Association (BPSPA). Leaders of the association said that apart from their members, other agencies that too provides private security. These non-member agencies could be allegedly involved in criminal activities.

"These unknown security agencies do not care about security, lack internal checking of information about their recruits are mainly accused for criminal activities," said BPSPA president Taher Quddus who is also the managing director of Securex. He also mentioned that clients ask for 'cheapest rate' services that reputed agencies cannot provide.

"When a guard receives only Tk 700 to 800 a month, how can he run his own life, leave alone his family members?" said Quddus indicating that poor salaries sometimes cause these guards to be involved in crime.

Polices sources said they have found the involvement of the members of private security agencies in crimes that included the gold robbery in Karnafuli Garden City, Calling bell robbery in Shayamoli and Mirpur and the killing of a school teacher in Shantinagar.

]"All private security agencies should have an internal security department to verify the background and vital information of recruits," said Selim Chowdhury, managing director of Group 4 -- a private security agency.

"The services of most private security agencies are not up to standard and these agencies have become grave threat for security," said MA Wadud Khan, president of Chandni Chawk Market Banik Samity.

However, after parliament's approval of the proposed Private Security Service Act 2005, all private security agencies will be accountable to government authorities a facet presently unavailable in this sector. According to intelligence reports, around 50,000 personnel provide security in the capital alone.

Home ministry sources said the agencies would be responsible to collect checked resumes with recent photographs of applicants, and submit them to the respective police stations. The agencies will have to get a license from police metropolitan police commissioner to conduct their services in the metropolis.

"Each agency recruit will have to produce a character certificate from the local governing body (chairman or member of Union Parisad) and a police verification report regarding the information provided," another senior official of home ministry said.