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Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has expressed confidence that no “evil force” will be able to create instability in Bangladesh in December, the month of the country’s Victory Day celebrations.
“December is our month of victory. I do not believe any evil force will be able to create instability here in December,” he said on Thursday (October 1).
The minister was responding to a question from journalists about possible attempts by the activities-banned Awami League to create unrest during December.
He was speaking at a ceremony to unveil the “Shubharambha Plaque” at the new headquarters of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
Speaking about the new headquarters, Salahuddin said the Ansar-VDP had long wanted a properly planned and suitably located headquarters.
The Public Works Ministry has allocated 3.45 acres, or nearly 11 bighas, of land for construction of the headquarters, he said.
“We have a major plan to relocate the Ansar headquarters here,” he said, adding that the existing space in Khilgaon was inadequate for such a large force.
The minister said Bangladesh has around 20,000 battalion Ansar personnel and about 60,000 attached Ansar members, making a combined force of around 80,000. The VDP has another 35,000 team leaders and around six million trained members under them, he said.
He said regular battalion Ansar personnel are deployed at government establishments and various ministries and directorates according to their requirements, but many still face accommodation problems.
“A central dormitory will also be built here for those who perform duties centrally,” he said, adding that barracks and other facilities would be developed for the force.
Calling Thursday a historic day for the Ansar battalion, Salahuddin said the government had been focusing on strengthening the force to improve law and order across the country and expand its role.
He said the government was also working to address various demands of Ansar and VDP members, including financial support.
Responding to another question, the home minister said a coordinated operation involving different law enforcement agencies was being planned and would include the Ansar battalion, police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Special Reserve Police (SRP) and other forces.
“Everyone will work in coordination,” he said, adding that joint efforts to combat terrorism, extortion, drugs and other serious crimes were already underway and would be strengthened further.
Salahuddin also said the government had identified cases of negligence of duty by some law enforcement personnel.
“We are taking appropriate action against those cases that have come to our attention or emerged through investigations,” he said.
He added that departmental proceedings and legal action were being taken where necessary, while personnel accused of criminal offences were also being prosecuted under the law.
