Ansar being given powers to make arrests as govt still worried about BNP: Rizvi

Despite the police making a huge number of arrests of BNP party men, the Ansar is also being given similar powers as the government is still worried over their own fate, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said today (24 October).

Terming the decision "unprecedented" at a press conference at the party's central office in Nayapaltan, the BNP leader said, "Through this development, the people of Bangladesh are finally going to be imprisoned in the Awami concentration camp. Now Ansar is being used against the pro-democracy people."

Earlier on Monday (23 October), a draft law was tabled in the Jatiya Sangsad giving the Ansar battalions similar powers to Bangladesh Police – detaining criminals, conducting body searches and seizing goods.

Bill placed in parliament to give Ansar forces power to detain criminals

Some opposition leaders of the parliament objected to the bill, saying it might create Ansar as a parallel force to the Bangladesh Police.

Rizvi further said the government seems to have lost its momentum around the 28 October rally.

He reiterated the party's plans to hold a peaceful programme that day. 

"In spite of which, pro-Awami police officers are intimidating the public with their continuous threats.

"Police and intelligence are arbitrarily arresting party leaders and workers wherever they find them," he alleged.

"Already, BNP's top leaders and leaders of all levels have been sentenced in false cases. The government has resorted to arrests and punishments to suppress the movement of the people," he said.

Ansar bill part of govt move to politicise the force: Fakhrul

Commenting on the matter, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the government has brought the Ansar Battalion Bill, 2023 as part of its move to politicise the force, reports the UNB.

"We condemn it and simultaneously demand the withdrawal of the bill. We strongly demand that this bill is not passed in any way," he said.
"The bill was placed in parliament yesterday. It is not only a cause of serious concern, but also a matter of panic. This is how they (govt) are destroying the entire state system and the institutions." 

He said the police are the only institution all over the world which has the power to arrest offenders. "But Ansars, who don't even have basic training, will be given that power here (in Bangladesh)."

The BNP leader said policing is a different thing and the force is run under several laws, rules, and a different code of conduct.

He said the role and activities of the Ansars force are different and it is run by a different institution.

Fakhrul said late President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman modernised the Ansar force during his rule.