Our intelligence agencies should investigate into whether the Rikshaw pullers movement to realize their demands is aided by RAW.
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🇧🇩 Is India trying to destabilize the current interim government of Bangladesh to bring back Hasina?
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Ansar members stage demo outside secretariat - - observerbd.com
Members of Ansar are demonstrating in front of the secretariat taking position there demanding nationalisation.They are warning through loud speaker that they will continue sit-in in front of the secretariat until their one-point demand is met.The officials and employees are cordoned off by the...
www.observerbd.com
Ansar members stage demo outside secretariat
Published : Sunday, 25 August, 2024 at 2:38 PM Count : 610
Ansar members stage demo outside secretariat
Members of Ansar are demonstrating in front of the secretariat taking position there demanding nationalisation.
They are warning through loud speaker that they will continue sit-in in front of the secretariat until their one-point demand is met.
The officials and employees are cordoned off by the protesters. No vehicle is able to enter secretariat.
Around 12noon on Sunday, thousands of ansar members took position near secretariat, forcing security personnel to close all the gates of the secretariat.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement came to a halt in and around the areas following the demonstration.
Published : Sunday, 25 August, 2024 at 2:38 PM Count : 610
Ansar members stage demo outside secretariat
Members of Ansar are demonstrating in front of the secretariat taking position there demanding nationalisation.
They are warning through loud speaker that they will continue sit-in in front of the secretariat until their one-point demand is met.
The officials and employees are cordoned off by the protesters. No vehicle is able to enter secretariat.
Around 12noon on Sunday, thousands of ansar members took position near secretariat, forcing security personnel to close all the gates of the secretariat.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement came to a halt in and around the areas following the demonstration.
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Bangladesh crisis: Students clash with paramilitary personnel, 50 injured
At least 50 people were injured in Dhaka on Sunday when students clashed with hundreds of paramilitary personnel protesting for job regularisation
Photo: PTI
At least 50 people were injured in Dhaka on Sunday when students clashed with hundreds of paramilitary personnel during a protest for job regularisation.
The clashes began around 9:20 pm near the Secretariat when Dhaka University students, responding to reports that several students, including Nahid Islam, a student leader and advisor in the caretaker government, had been detained by members of Ansar, a paramilitary auxiliary force, attempted to disperse the Ansar protest demanding permanent employment.
Both groups hurled bricks at each other during the confrontation, leading to the involvement of police and military forces to restore order.
Earlier in the day, the Ansar members had ended their protest after receiving assurances from Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the interim government's home affairs advisor. However, tensions escalated as students accused the Ansar force of reneging on the agreement.
Student protest coordinator Hasnat Abdullah later posted on Facebook, blaming former Ansar director general Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque for the continued blockade of the Secretariat despite the demands being addressed.
"The autocratic forces are trying to make a comeback through the Ansar force. Even after their demands were met, we were kept locked in the Secretariat," Abdullah said.
The news of the ongoing blockade sparked further unrest as over a thousand students and others, many carrying sticks, gathered at the Secretariat. Violence broke out when they encountered members of Ansar. Following the clashes, reports emerged that scattered Ansar personnel had been attacked.
Nahid Islam, the advisor for information and broadcasting, accused the Ansar protest of being part of a broader conspiracy. "We will take legal action against those involved," Islam said.
Maj Gen Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, the director general of the Ansar and Village Defence Force, defended the actions of his force in a statement to The Daily Star. He claimed that those persisting in the protest were not Ansar members. "They are outsiders. They came with an additional set of clothes, and their intention was different," he said.
Mahmud vowed to take "legal action" against those responsible for the ongoing protest.
At least 50 people were injured in Dhaka on Sunday when students clashed with hundreds of paramilitary personnel protesting for job regularisation
Photo: PTI
At least 50 people were injured in Dhaka on Sunday when students clashed with hundreds of paramilitary personnel during a protest for job regularisation.
The clashes began around 9:20 pm near the Secretariat when Dhaka University students, responding to reports that several students, including Nahid Islam, a student leader and advisor in the caretaker government, had been detained by members of Ansar, a paramilitary auxiliary force, attempted to disperse the Ansar protest demanding permanent employment.
Both groups hurled bricks at each other during the confrontation, leading to the involvement of police and military forces to restore order.
Earlier in the day, the Ansar members had ended their protest after receiving assurances from Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the interim government's home affairs advisor. However, tensions escalated as students accused the Ansar force of reneging on the agreement.
Student protest coordinator Hasnat Abdullah later posted on Facebook, blaming former Ansar director general Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque for the continued blockade of the Secretariat despite the demands being addressed.
"The autocratic forces are trying to make a comeback through the Ansar force. Even after their demands were met, we were kept locked in the Secretariat," Abdullah said.
The news of the ongoing blockade sparked further unrest as over a thousand students and others, many carrying sticks, gathered at the Secretariat. Violence broke out when they encountered members of Ansar. Following the clashes, reports emerged that scattered Ansar personnel had been attacked.
Nahid Islam, the advisor for information and broadcasting, accused the Ansar protest of being part of a broader conspiracy. "We will take legal action against those involved," Islam said.
Maj Gen Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, the director general of the Ansar and Village Defence Force, defended the actions of his force in a statement to The Daily Star. He claimed that those persisting in the protest were not Ansar members. "They are outsiders. They came with an additional set of clothes, and their intention was different," he said.
Mahmud vowed to take "legal action" against those responsible for the ongoing protest.
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40 hurt as students clash with protesting Ansars
Clash erupts near secretariat after members of Ansar continue to protest defying govt assurance
40 hurt as students clash with protesting Ansars
Clash erupts near secretariat as members of Ansar continue to protest defying govt assurance
Photo: Anisur Rahman
At least 40 people were injured as a clash broke out between Ansar members and students near the secretariat in Dhaka tonight.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police camp in-charge (inspector) Md Bachchu Mia said the injured started coming to the hospital around 9:30pm.
Asif Hawladar, Dhaka University correspondent of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, was injured critically during the clash. He was admitted to a city hospital.
The incident took place when over a thousand students many of them with sticks marched towards the secretariat where dozens of Ansar members were holding protests blocking the entrance of the key government headquarters. The students termed the Ansar members as "agents of autocracy".
Photo: Screengrab
Sources said several conveners of the anti-discrimination student movement invited students to gather at the Raju sculpture to march towards the secretariat.
The Ansar members initially moved back as students reached the area around 9:20pm.
However, they [Ansars] chased back the students with sticks. They also started throwing bricks targeting the students which ensued a clash between two groups. The clash continued till 10:00pm, according to witnesses.
Chaitanya Hossain, a student said both students and Ansar members became injured during the clash.
Murad Mondal, another student said they were busy collecting and distributing relief to the flood victims in the university area. Learning that some officials and advisers have been confined to the secretariat by the Ansar members, they decided to march towards it.
"We don't need any Ansars in our country," he said.
The clashes came after members of the Ansar refused to withdraw their protest despite the interim government's assurance of abolishing the "rest tradition" in the force.
According to the Ansar regulation, a member is sent on a six-month mandatory leave after working for three consecutive years. During this period, Ansar members do not get paid.
There are three branches of Ansar: the General Ansar, the Battalion Ansar, and the Village Defence Party (VDP).
According to officials, the government do not pay any salary to 70,000 general Ansar members. A member is paid by the office – Tk 540 per day -- where he is deployed for security and other purposes.
On average, the Ansar and VDP headquarters receive a deployment requisition for 55,000 for different institutes or government offices around the year.
Besides General Ansars, there are around 17,000 regular members in the force called the Battalion Ansar. The force has also around 57 lakh VDP members, whose jobs are volunteer-based.
Clash erupts near secretariat as members of Ansar continue to protest defying govt assurance
Photo: Anisur Rahman
At least 40 people were injured as a clash broke out between Ansar members and students near the secretariat in Dhaka tonight.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police camp in-charge (inspector) Md Bachchu Mia said the injured started coming to the hospital around 9:30pm.
Asif Hawladar, Dhaka University correspondent of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, was injured critically during the clash. He was admitted to a city hospital.
The incident took place when over a thousand students many of them with sticks marched towards the secretariat where dozens of Ansar members were holding protests blocking the entrance of the key government headquarters. The students termed the Ansar members as "agents of autocracy".
Photo: Screengrab
Sources said several conveners of the anti-discrimination student movement invited students to gather at the Raju sculpture to march towards the secretariat.
The Ansar members initially moved back as students reached the area around 9:20pm.
However, they [Ansars] chased back the students with sticks. They also started throwing bricks targeting the students which ensued a clash between two groups. The clash continued till 10:00pm, according to witnesses.
Chaitanya Hossain, a student said both students and Ansar members became injured during the clash.
Murad Mondal, another student said they were busy collecting and distributing relief to the flood victims in the university area. Learning that some officials and advisers have been confined to the secretariat by the Ansar members, they decided to march towards it.
"We don't need any Ansars in our country," he said.
The clashes came after members of the Ansar refused to withdraw their protest despite the interim government's assurance of abolishing the "rest tradition" in the force.
According to the Ansar regulation, a member is sent on a six-month mandatory leave after working for three consecutive years. During this period, Ansar members do not get paid.
There are three branches of Ansar: the General Ansar, the Battalion Ansar, and the Village Defence Party (VDP).
According to officials, the government do not pay any salary to 70,000 general Ansar members. A member is paid by the office – Tk 540 per day -- where he is deployed for security and other purposes.
On average, the Ansar and VDP headquarters receive a deployment requisition for 55,000 for different institutes or government offices around the year.
Besides General Ansars, there are around 17,000 regular members in the force called the Battalion Ansar. The force has also around 57 lakh VDP members, whose jobs are volunteer-based.
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সচিবালয়ে আনসার সদস্যদের সাথে শিক্ষার্থীদের সংঘর্ষ, আহত অর্ধশত |
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[H3]আন্দোলনকারীদের সঙ্গে আনসারের কোনো সম্পর্ক নেই: মহাপরিচালক |[/H3]
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আনসারের ছদ্মাবারণে যারা এসেছিলো তাদের কোনো দাবির এজেন্ডা ছিল না: আইন উপদেষ্টা |
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Pedal rickshaw pullers block Shahbagh intersection
Pedal rickshaw pullers blocked Shahbagh intersection this morning demanding a ban on battery-operated rickshaws on main roads.
Pedal rickshaw pullers block Shahbagh intersection
They are demanding a ban on batter-operated rickshaws on main roads
Photo: Prabir Das
Pedal rickshaw pullers blocked Shahbagh intersection this morning demanding a ban on battery-operated rickshaws on main roads.
They said battery-operated rickshaws should be restricted to feeder roads, as was the practice in the past.
Witnesses reported that several hundred rickshaw pullers began arriving in the Shahbagh around 8:00am and blocked the road with their rickshaws around 9:00am.
The intersection was completely blocked, and around 11:30am vehicles going to the southern parts of the city could be seen diverting through Hare Road.
Photo: Amran Hossain
Abdur Rashid, a rickshaw puller from Uttara, said they took to the streets because law enforcement authorities have not taken action against battery-operated rickshaws plying major roads.
"Our income has drastically reduced. Battery-operated rickshaws should only be allowed on feeder roads and lanes," he told The Daily Star.
Md Uzzal, another rickshaw puller, said they cannot compete with battery-operated rickshaws due to their speed.
The excessive speed of these three-wheelers is also causing accidents, he said, adding that they will continue their protest until battery-operated rickshaws are banned from the main roads.
Although battery-operated rickshaws typically operate on lanes and feeder roads, they have started using main thoroughfares, including important routes like Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, due to the inaction of traffic police.
They are demanding a ban on batter-operated rickshaws on main roads
Photo: Prabir Das
Pedal rickshaw pullers blocked Shahbagh intersection this morning demanding a ban on battery-operated rickshaws on main roads.
They said battery-operated rickshaws should be restricted to feeder roads, as was the practice in the past.
Witnesses reported that several hundred rickshaw pullers began arriving in the Shahbagh around 8:00am and blocked the road with their rickshaws around 9:00am.
The intersection was completely blocked, and around 11:30am vehicles going to the southern parts of the city could be seen diverting through Hare Road.
Photo: Amran Hossain
Abdur Rashid, a rickshaw puller from Uttara, said they took to the streets because law enforcement authorities have not taken action against battery-operated rickshaws plying major roads.
"Our income has drastically reduced. Battery-operated rickshaws should only be allowed on feeder roads and lanes," he told The Daily Star.
Md Uzzal, another rickshaw puller, said they cannot compete with battery-operated rickshaws due to their speed.
The excessive speed of these three-wheelers is also causing accidents, he said, adding that they will continue their protest until battery-operated rickshaws are banned from the main roads.
Although battery-operated rickshaws typically operate on lanes and feeder roads, they have started using main thoroughfares, including important routes like Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, due to the inaction of traffic police.
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388 Ansar men sent to jail for attacking students in Dhaka
A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday sent 388 general Ansar members to jail in four cases over the clash between Ansar and students on Sunday night in front of the...
www.newagebd.net
388 Ansar men sent to jail for attacking students in Dhaka
Staff Correspondent 26 August, 2024, 19:40
| New Age photo
A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday sent 388 general Ansar members to jail in four cases over the clash between Ansar and students on Sunday night in front of the country’s administrative hub secretariat and another case on Friday’s protest of Ansar members in Airport area on Friday.
Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Md Mossaraf Hossain passed the order as police produced them before the court, Paltan police station general recording officer Md Shah Alam confirmed.
Of the jailed, 189 were accused in the Shahbagh police station case, 98 in the Ramna police station case, 95 in the Paltan police station case and six in the case filed with Airport police station, according to Shah Alam.
A total of 437 named and 11,100 unnamed people were made accused in four cases over the Sunday night and Friday’s incident, according to four police stations officers-in-charge.
Paltan Ramna and Shahbagh police stations cases were filed over Sunday night’s incident and another was on Friday’s incident.
About 3,000-4,000 unidentified people were made accused in a case filed with paltan police station, while 2,000-3,000 unidentified people were made accused in the both cases filed with Ramna and Shahbagh police stations, they said.
Besides, 1,000-1,100 unidentified people were made accused in the case filed with Airport police station over the Friday’s protest of Ansar members in the area.
At the Paltan police station, the case was filed by the police station sub-inspector Md Sazzad Hossain Bhuiyan against 4,114 people, including 114 named and about 4,000 unnamed, according to the case statement.
In the clash, at least 34 students, six Ansar members were injured.
Bangla daily Prothom Alo›s Dhaka University correspondent Asif Howlader was brutally kicked with boot and beaten with belt by Ansar members near the secretariat at around 9:30pm on Sunday, the newspaper reported.
Inter-Services Public Relations office in a release on Monday claimed that at least six army personnel were injured and one of them now in critical condition.
About 10,000 Ansar members cordoned off the secretariat where seven advisers to the interim government and high officials in the public administrations, among others, were confined at that time, said ISPR, adding that they were rescued with the help of Army.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman said that two out of the five critically injured required neurosurgery.
‘One was taken to the operation theatre and another would be taken later,’ he added.
While talking to reporters at the DMCH, law adviser Asif Nazrul alleged that the protesters had in disguise with other agenda in the name of Ansar’s demand.
On Monday, the government has reshuffled 19 senior officials, including nine deputy director general and 10 directors in the Ansar force.
Home ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard.
Of the nine deputy director generals, Nurul Hasan Faridi was transferred to the Khulna Range from Gazipur, Saifullah Rasel to the headquarters of the Ansar and Village Defence Party (operations) from Chittagong Range, Shah Ahmad Fazle Rabbi to the Rajshahi Range from Khulna Range, Mohammad Abdul Awal to the Mymensingh Range from Sylhet Range, Kamrun Nahar to Gazipur from Rajshahi Range, Md Fakhrul Alam to the Barisal Range from Dhaka, Md Saifur Rahman to the Chittagong Range from Mymensigh, Ashraful Alam to the Dhaka Range from Barisal Range, and Md Ziaul Hasan to the Sylhet Range from Dhaka Range.
Of the ten directors, Mohammad Amin Uddin was moved to Khagrachari; Md Ahsan Ullah to Thakurgaon; Mohammad Saifuzzaman to the director of integration at headquarters, Syed Iftikhar Ali to the 35 Ansar Battalion in Rangamati Kaptai Shilchari, Muhammad Nur e Alam Siddiqui as director operations at headquarters, Taskin Ara to the Ansar and VDP Academy in Safipur, Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury to Barisal Range,
Jahanara Akhtar to Safipur, Fatema-tuz-Zohra to the director of VDP-Training at headquarters, and Munmun Sultana to the director of administration at headquarters.
According to officials, about one lakh general Ansar members were enlisted in the force and 70,000 of them are now active. About 55,000 Ansar members are posted in various organisations at this moment.
Staff Correspondent 26 August, 2024, 19:40
| New Age photo
A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday sent 388 general Ansar members to jail in four cases over the clash between Ansar and students on Sunday night in front of the country’s administrative hub secretariat and another case on Friday’s protest of Ansar members in Airport area on Friday.
Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Md Mossaraf Hossain passed the order as police produced them before the court, Paltan police station general recording officer Md Shah Alam confirmed.
Of the jailed, 189 were accused in the Shahbagh police station case, 98 in the Ramna police station case, 95 in the Paltan police station case and six in the case filed with Airport police station, according to Shah Alam.
A total of 437 named and 11,100 unnamed people were made accused in four cases over the Sunday night and Friday’s incident, according to four police stations officers-in-charge.
Paltan Ramna and Shahbagh police stations cases were filed over Sunday night’s incident and another was on Friday’s incident.
About 3,000-4,000 unidentified people were made accused in a case filed with paltan police station, while 2,000-3,000 unidentified people were made accused in the both cases filed with Ramna and Shahbagh police stations, they said.
Besides, 1,000-1,100 unidentified people were made accused in the case filed with Airport police station over the Friday’s protest of Ansar members in the area.
At the Paltan police station, the case was filed by the police station sub-inspector Md Sazzad Hossain Bhuiyan against 4,114 people, including 114 named and about 4,000 unnamed, according to the case statement.
In the clash, at least 34 students, six Ansar members were injured.
Bangla daily Prothom Alo›s Dhaka University correspondent Asif Howlader was brutally kicked with boot and beaten with belt by Ansar members near the secretariat at around 9:30pm on Sunday, the newspaper reported.
Inter-Services Public Relations office in a release on Monday claimed that at least six army personnel were injured and one of them now in critical condition.
About 10,000 Ansar members cordoned off the secretariat where seven advisers to the interim government and high officials in the public administrations, among others, were confined at that time, said ISPR, adding that they were rescued with the help of Army.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman said that two out of the five critically injured required neurosurgery.
‘One was taken to the operation theatre and another would be taken later,’ he added.
While talking to reporters at the DMCH, law adviser Asif Nazrul alleged that the protesters had in disguise with other agenda in the name of Ansar’s demand.
On Monday, the government has reshuffled 19 senior officials, including nine deputy director general and 10 directors in the Ansar force.
Home ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard.
Of the nine deputy director generals, Nurul Hasan Faridi was transferred to the Khulna Range from Gazipur, Saifullah Rasel to the headquarters of the Ansar and Village Defence Party (operations) from Chittagong Range, Shah Ahmad Fazle Rabbi to the Rajshahi Range from Khulna Range, Mohammad Abdul Awal to the Mymensingh Range from Sylhet Range, Kamrun Nahar to Gazipur from Rajshahi Range, Md Fakhrul Alam to the Barisal Range from Dhaka, Md Saifur Rahman to the Chittagong Range from Mymensigh, Ashraful Alam to the Dhaka Range from Barisal Range, and Md Ziaul Hasan to the Sylhet Range from Dhaka Range.
Of the ten directors, Mohammad Amin Uddin was moved to Khagrachari; Md Ahsan Ullah to Thakurgaon; Mohammad Saifuzzaman to the director of integration at headquarters, Syed Iftikhar Ali to the 35 Ansar Battalion in Rangamati Kaptai Shilchari, Muhammad Nur e Alam Siddiqui as director operations at headquarters, Taskin Ara to the Ansar and VDP Academy in Safipur, Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury to Barisal Range,
Jahanara Akhtar to Safipur, Fatema-tuz-Zohra to the director of VDP-Training at headquarters, and Munmun Sultana to the director of administration at headquarters.
According to officials, about one lakh general Ansar members were enlisted in the force and 70,000 of them are now active. About 55,000 Ansar members are posted in various organisations at this moment.
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A troubling sequence of events that must not be repeated
Authorities must restore discipline in Ansar, address legitimate grievances
A troubling sequence of events that must not be repeated
Authorities must restore discipline in Ansar, address legitimate grievances
VISUAL: STAR
Sunday's clash between demonstrating Ansar members and students is a deeply troubling development with potential security implications for the country. Reportedly, the clash occurred after the former kept the gates of the Secretariat locked throughout the day despite government assurances of addressing their demands, including job nationalisation and abolishing the mandatory, unpaid leave system. Things turned violent around 9:20pm when a large crowd comprising students and general people responded to a call to free trapped officials, leading to at least 50 getting injured, before the army eventually intervened to restore order.
This is but the latest example of the chaos that surfaced across different sectors after the interim government took over on August 9. The frequency and intensity of protests by various interest groups have escalated to a point that police on Sunday night banned all sorts of demonstrations near the Secretariat and the residence of the chief adviser. The Ansar development is particularly alarming as it showed the lack of trust and discipline partly resulting from years of politicisation. One may recall how in 2023 a bill was proposed in parliament that would have given Ansar battalions—an auxiliary force—the authority to detain criminals, search bodies or seize goods, turning them into a parallel police force. The role of Ansar in the bloody clashes that preceded the fall of Awami League also left deep scars within this 55,000-strong force.
There are three branches of Ansar: General Ansar, Battalion Ansar, and Village Defence Party (VDP). Their demands for job nationalisation, rooted in grievances over low pay and lack of benefits, have been brewing for some time. But Sunday's development cannot be seen just as a reaction to the failure to address those grievances. After the incident, Nahid Islam, the information and broadcasting adviser, stated that continued demonstration even after government assurances was "part of a conspiracy". The director general of Ansar and VDP went as far as to say those who protested and clashed were not Ansar members, labelling them "outsiders" with ulterior motives. Investigations are currently under way. Already, 377 Ansars were sent to jail in four cases after being taken to a Dhaka court on Monday, while nine senior officials were transferred. We hope the probe into their activities will unearth any potential conspiracy and lead to actions to restore discipline within the force.
But that doesn't take away from the need to fulfil the legitimate demands of general members of Ansar. The formation of a seven-member committee to examine their demands is a positive step, but it must be followed by concrete actions. The authorities also need to take stern action to prevent such security meltdowns from recurring. Given what has occurred surrounding the Ansar force in recent times, we feel a comprehensive review of the internal situation in the force has become essential. It must be done with an aim to reduce our vulnerability to such incidents in our security landscape in the future.
Authorities must restore discipline in Ansar, address legitimate grievances
VISUAL: STAR
Sunday's clash between demonstrating Ansar members and students is a deeply troubling development with potential security implications for the country. Reportedly, the clash occurred after the former kept the gates of the Secretariat locked throughout the day despite government assurances of addressing their demands, including job nationalisation and abolishing the mandatory, unpaid leave system. Things turned violent around 9:20pm when a large crowd comprising students and general people responded to a call to free trapped officials, leading to at least 50 getting injured, before the army eventually intervened to restore order.
This is but the latest example of the chaos that surfaced across different sectors after the interim government took over on August 9. The frequency and intensity of protests by various interest groups have escalated to a point that police on Sunday night banned all sorts of demonstrations near the Secretariat and the residence of the chief adviser. The Ansar development is particularly alarming as it showed the lack of trust and discipline partly resulting from years of politicisation. One may recall how in 2023 a bill was proposed in parliament that would have given Ansar battalions—an auxiliary force—the authority to detain criminals, search bodies or seize goods, turning them into a parallel police force. The role of Ansar in the bloody clashes that preceded the fall of Awami League also left deep scars within this 55,000-strong force.
There are three branches of Ansar: General Ansar, Battalion Ansar, and Village Defence Party (VDP). Their demands for job nationalisation, rooted in grievances over low pay and lack of benefits, have been brewing for some time. But Sunday's development cannot be seen just as a reaction to the failure to address those grievances. After the incident, Nahid Islam, the information and broadcasting adviser, stated that continued demonstration even after government assurances was "part of a conspiracy". The director general of Ansar and VDP went as far as to say those who protested and clashed were not Ansar members, labelling them "outsiders" with ulterior motives. Investigations are currently under way. Already, 377 Ansars were sent to jail in four cases after being taken to a Dhaka court on Monday, while nine senior officials were transferred. We hope the probe into their activities will unearth any potential conspiracy and lead to actions to restore discipline within the force.
But that doesn't take away from the need to fulfil the legitimate demands of general members of Ansar. The formation of a seven-member committee to examine their demands is a positive step, but it must be followed by concrete actions. The authorities also need to take stern action to prevent such security meltdowns from recurring. Given what has occurred surrounding the Ansar force in recent times, we feel a comprehensive review of the internal situation in the force has become essential. It must be done with an aim to reduce our vulnerability to such incidents in our security landscape in the future.
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The overriding security concern
Regardless of the grievances that the Ansar members had, their behaviour in and around the Secretariat was unacceptable. The events that unfolded on August 21 was unthinkable in the past but it had happened. No matter who did what, the fact remains that there had been a colossal failure in security
The overriding security concern
Syed Mansur Hashim
Published :
Aug 27, 2024 21:24
Updated :
Aug 27, 2024 21:29
Regardless of the grievances that the Ansar members had, their behaviour in and around the Secretariat was unacceptable. The events that unfolded on August 21 was unthinkable in the past but it had happened. No matter who did what, the fact remains that there had been a colossal failure in security is undeniable. Had students not responded to the call for help in large numbers, things could turn really ugly. But that's where the problem lies. The Secretariat is designated as a KPI (key point installation) and should have had layers of protection from law enforcement agencies.
Granted that the recent events have effectively decimated the ranks of the police force, but there are other organised forces like the BGB which could have provided the necessary security as back-up for the under-strength police force guarding this facility. The Secretariat had been left inadequately guarded. Why? This is a vital question that will be the talk of the country for a long time. Things are far from settled from a security point of view and heads should have rolled, but haven't. The issue of security had not been properly thought out until now and the occupants of the Secretariat have had a close shave.
One would have thought that the torching of two stations of the metro rail service last month would have served as a wake-up call for the authorities. Sadly, the policymakers in this country love to prepare rules and rule books on issues like KPI but are loathe to implementing those in right earnest. That is why perhaps it fell to the army to follow KPI rules on the Rooppur nuclear project as that force followed procedure to the letter. Is the Secretariat any less important than Rooppur? It is not simply another government office, rather it is the most important of offices where the ministers (and now advisors), the highest officials in the bureaucracy work.
Recently the concerned advisor has declared that metro rail is to be declared as a KPI. Precisely what enhanced security will be provided will be watched closely. Let there be no confusion about the Ansar incident. This was the first attempt at destabilisation and it may not be the last. The interim government is being tested to the limit to see if there is any crack. At a time when the nation is busy tackling the fallout from devastating floods, disgruntled members of a paramilitary force comes rampaging through the town creating havoc in the seat of government. This does not particularly inspire confidence in the law and order situation.
As pointed out by one secretariat official who spoke to the media: "This is unprecedented. We've never seen anything like this before. The Secretariat is supposed to be a secure area, yet protesters have breached it". One can realise how alarming this has been.
And what exactly does "enhanced security" mean? Is it merely adding some more armed personnel to sites or adding layers of protection to KPIs? There has to be stocktaking as to how and why law enforcement agencies had no prior warning about what was brewing somewhere else. A protest like this does not materialise spontaneously, rather it requires meticulous planning and organising. Where is the field level intelligence? What were the concerned agencies doing all this time? These are hard questions and the authorities need to start asking them. There needs to be stocktaking. This isn't child's play and unless the government is seen to be firmly in control, it will not instill confidence in the people that it can deliver on promises being made.
Syed Mansur Hashim
Published :
Aug 27, 2024 21:24
Updated :
Aug 27, 2024 21:29
Regardless of the grievances that the Ansar members had, their behaviour in and around the Secretariat was unacceptable. The events that unfolded on August 21 was unthinkable in the past but it had happened. No matter who did what, the fact remains that there had been a colossal failure in security is undeniable. Had students not responded to the call for help in large numbers, things could turn really ugly. But that's where the problem lies. The Secretariat is designated as a KPI (key point installation) and should have had layers of protection from law enforcement agencies.
Granted that the recent events have effectively decimated the ranks of the police force, but there are other organised forces like the BGB which could have provided the necessary security as back-up for the under-strength police force guarding this facility. The Secretariat had been left inadequately guarded. Why? This is a vital question that will be the talk of the country for a long time. Things are far from settled from a security point of view and heads should have rolled, but haven't. The issue of security had not been properly thought out until now and the occupants of the Secretariat have had a close shave.
One would have thought that the torching of two stations of the metro rail service last month would have served as a wake-up call for the authorities. Sadly, the policymakers in this country love to prepare rules and rule books on issues like KPI but are loathe to implementing those in right earnest. That is why perhaps it fell to the army to follow KPI rules on the Rooppur nuclear project as that force followed procedure to the letter. Is the Secretariat any less important than Rooppur? It is not simply another government office, rather it is the most important of offices where the ministers (and now advisors), the highest officials in the bureaucracy work.
Recently the concerned advisor has declared that metro rail is to be declared as a KPI. Precisely what enhanced security will be provided will be watched closely. Let there be no confusion about the Ansar incident. This was the first attempt at destabilisation and it may not be the last. The interim government is being tested to the limit to see if there is any crack. At a time when the nation is busy tackling the fallout from devastating floods, disgruntled members of a paramilitary force comes rampaging through the town creating havoc in the seat of government. This does not particularly inspire confidence in the law and order situation.
As pointed out by one secretariat official who spoke to the media: "This is unprecedented. We've never seen anything like this before. The Secretariat is supposed to be a secure area, yet protesters have breached it". One can realise how alarming this has been.
And what exactly does "enhanced security" mean? Is it merely adding some more armed personnel to sites or adding layers of protection to KPIs? There has to be stocktaking as to how and why law enforcement agencies had no prior warning about what was brewing somewhere else. A protest like this does not materialise spontaneously, rather it requires meticulous planning and organising. Where is the field level intelligence? What were the concerned agencies doing all this time? These are hard questions and the authorities need to start asking them. There needs to be stocktaking. This isn't child's play and unless the government is seen to be firmly in control, it will not instill confidence in the people that it can deliver on promises being made.
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Nationalisation of general Ansars difficult in current scenario
Home adviser tells Chargé d'affaires of US Embassy, says govt accepted their key demand
Nationalisation of general Ansars difficult in current scenario
Home adviser tells Chargé d'affaires of US Embassy, says govt accepted their key demand
Photo: Collected
Considering the economic situation in the country, it is difficult to accept the demand to nationalise the jobs of general Ansar members, said Adviser to the Home Affairs Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Jahangir made the remark during a meeting with the six-member United States (US) delegations, led by Chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Bangladesh Helen LaFave at the secretariat today.
His reply came after LaFave wanted to know about the Ansars, according to the home ministry release.
The adviser said, "They [Ansar] were agitating for the nationalisation of their jobs. It is difficult to accept the demand in the existing economic situation of Bangladesh."
He, however, said, "The problem has been solved."
"We have taken the initiative to cancel the six-month rest period that the Ansars had to take after every three years," he said.
Once the rest period is cancelled, the members will not have to take the mandatory rest. They will also be entitled to salary and allowances, he added.
Nationalisation of jobs has been one of the major demands of agitating Ansar members, who have been demonstrating over the last two weeks.
On Sunday, the government, including Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, director general of Ansar and VDP, assured the agitating force members of accepting their demands and formed a committee with a 7-day timeframe to submit a report after analysing those.
However, the Ansar members continued to block the Secretariat gates. The stalemate confined seven advisers and many officials at the Secretariat which led to clashes when students tried to chase them away. At least 50 people were injured.
Following the clash, a total of 437 Ansar personnel have been named as suspects in four cases that also accused 11,100 unidentified people over clashes.
The cases were filed at Shahbagh, Ramna, Airport, and Paltan police stations on charges related to attempted murder, grievous injury, illegal gathering, rioting, and assaulting law enforcers. As many as 377 Ansar members, including two women, were sent to jail on Monday.
The government and Ansar authority later claimed that outsiders infiltrated the protesting Ansars, and their target was to destabilise the nation.
During the meeting today between the US delegation and home advisers, various issues including cooperation in Bangladesh's security and agriculture sectors, and rehabilitation of flood victims were discussed.
The adviser Jahangir Alam said the US is one of its development partners in Bangladesh.
"They [US] are cooperating in various sectors of Bangladesh. They can also play an important role in the ongoing police reforms, including training and other areas," he said.
At the time, the Charge d'Affaires said Bangladesh's security agencies' role in ensuring the security of the embassies, including the American Embassy, is undoubtedly commendable. However, reform of intelligence agencies, including the police, is necessary as part of the long-term public welfare, said LaFave.
The adviser sought financial assistance from the US government for the ongoing flood victims.
Jahangir, also the adviser to the agriculture ministry, highlighted the demand for seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs for agricultural rehabilitation.
Charge d'Affaires LaFave said the US Department of Agriculture is working with nine government departments in Bangladesh.
She said they will provide all-out cooperation including the supply of materials.
In reply to LaFave's request for access to radio frequencies for the embassy, the adviser said a decision would be taken through an inter-ministerial meeting with BTRC, and concerned offices and agencies.
The meeting was attended by the USAID Mission Director of the US Embassy Reed Aeschliman, Political Counselor Eric Geelan, Agriculture Attaché Sarah Gilleski, Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Michael Demichiei, Law Enforcement Assistant Attaché Michael Hintz and other senior officials of the Department of Interior.
Home adviser tells Chargé d'affaires of US Embassy, says govt accepted their key demand
Photo: Collected
Considering the economic situation in the country, it is difficult to accept the demand to nationalise the jobs of general Ansar members, said Adviser to the Home Affairs Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Jahangir made the remark during a meeting with the six-member United States (US) delegations, led by Chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Bangladesh Helen LaFave at the secretariat today.
His reply came after LaFave wanted to know about the Ansars, according to the home ministry release.
The adviser said, "They [Ansar] were agitating for the nationalisation of their jobs. It is difficult to accept the demand in the existing economic situation of Bangladesh."
He, however, said, "The problem has been solved."
"We have taken the initiative to cancel the six-month rest period that the Ansars had to take after every three years," he said.
Once the rest period is cancelled, the members will not have to take the mandatory rest. They will also be entitled to salary and allowances, he added.
Nationalisation of jobs has been one of the major demands of agitating Ansar members, who have been demonstrating over the last two weeks.
On Sunday, the government, including Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, director general of Ansar and VDP, assured the agitating force members of accepting their demands and formed a committee with a 7-day timeframe to submit a report after analysing those.
However, the Ansar members continued to block the Secretariat gates. The stalemate confined seven advisers and many officials at the Secretariat which led to clashes when students tried to chase them away. At least 50 people were injured.
Following the clash, a total of 437 Ansar personnel have been named as suspects in four cases that also accused 11,100 unidentified people over clashes.
The cases were filed at Shahbagh, Ramna, Airport, and Paltan police stations on charges related to attempted murder, grievous injury, illegal gathering, rioting, and assaulting law enforcers. As many as 377 Ansar members, including two women, were sent to jail on Monday.
The government and Ansar authority later claimed that outsiders infiltrated the protesting Ansars, and their target was to destabilise the nation.
During the meeting today between the US delegation and home advisers, various issues including cooperation in Bangladesh's security and agriculture sectors, and rehabilitation of flood victims were discussed.
The adviser Jahangir Alam said the US is one of its development partners in Bangladesh.
"They [US] are cooperating in various sectors of Bangladesh. They can also play an important role in the ongoing police reforms, including training and other areas," he said.
At the time, the Charge d'Affaires said Bangladesh's security agencies' role in ensuring the security of the embassies, including the American Embassy, is undoubtedly commendable. However, reform of intelligence agencies, including the police, is necessary as part of the long-term public welfare, said LaFave.
The adviser sought financial assistance from the US government for the ongoing flood victims.
Jahangir, also the adviser to the agriculture ministry, highlighted the demand for seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs for agricultural rehabilitation.
Charge d'Affaires LaFave said the US Department of Agriculture is working with nine government departments in Bangladesh.
She said they will provide all-out cooperation including the supply of materials.
In reply to LaFave's request for access to radio frequencies for the embassy, the adviser said a decision would be taken through an inter-ministerial meeting with BTRC, and concerned offices and agencies.
The meeting was attended by the USAID Mission Director of the US Embassy Reed Aeschliman, Political Counselor Eric Geelan, Agriculture Attaché Sarah Gilleski, Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Michael Demichiei, Law Enforcement Assistant Attaché Michael Hintz and other senior officials of the Department of Interior.
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ভারতে শেখ হাসিনার অবস্থান কি প্রতিবিপ্লবের বার্তা দিচ্ছে?
Lulldapull
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I've talked to some Bangladeshi's and they told me that the Hasina regime was India installed and India backed. They never really permitted Bangladesh to set up much industry in their own country except the garment industry. All the profits were largely skimmed off by the Indians and very little got reinvested back into Bangladesh. All goods n services were India supplied and owned. The Indians had turned Bangladesh into a 100% client state/ dependency.
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একুশের রাত || আনসার ষড়যন্ত্র!
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It's true that Hasina Govt. was India backed which safeguarded Indian strategic interest. But it's false that Bangladeshi entrepreneurs were not allowed to set up industries in the country. Please visit the following section of Bangladesh Defense Forum to know the industries set up by the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.
Bangladesh Trade & Industry
pkdefense.com
Lulldapull
Senior Member
- Jan 26, 2024
- 1,644
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- Origin
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- Axis Group
It's true that Hasina Govt. was India backed which safeguarded Indian strategic interest. But it's false that Bangladeshi entrepreneurs were not allowed to set up industries in the country. Please visit the following section of Bangladesh Defense Forum to know the industries set up by the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.
Bangladesh Trade & Industry
Saif bhai the situ got so chocking for the entrepreneurs that they had to come out on da streets to protest against the India run monopolies. The favored Hasina crowd had all the privileges and got all the contracts awarded to them and the young people had no opportunity and they got shut out.
I spoke to a few Bangladeshi brothers here at the masjid and this is what they told me.
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