Ansar battalion to get arresting power ahead of election

Despite opposition from the police, Ansar battalion members are set to get powers to make arrests, frisk and seize goods. A bill was placed to this end in the parliament yesterday.

A Jatiya Party MP strongly opposed the bill and asked if a parallel force of police is being created ahead of the election. Rejecting his objection through voice vote, the bill titled "Ansar Battalion Bill-2023" was placed in parliament.

Many political observers think the government initiative to give another force the power to arrest offenders cannot be seen positively. There might be any motive behind the decision. The Ansar battalion works in aid to the police during the election.

Meanwhile, the move has caused a sharp reaction from the police.

A group of 25 police officials led by inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun met home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday and expressed their objections regarding the bill.

Representatives of the Bangladesh Police Service Association and Bangladesh Police Association were also present at the meeting.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman told Prothom Alo on Monday that Ansar assists police as per the law and it does not work independently.

The DMP commissioner said police have communicated some observations regarding the bill.

The observations have been placed to ensure that no misunderstanding emerges between the two government institutions during work and both can work comfortably.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan placed the bill to the parliament after the objection from the JaPa MP Fakhrul Imam was rejected on voice vote.

The bill was later sent to the parliamentary committee for submitting a report after vetting within three days.

The home minister while placing the bill to the parliament said the government has no intention to make Ansar battalion a parallel force to police.

He mentioned Ansar battalion’s role during political violence in 2013 and 2014.

Although the bill was placed rejecting objections from the opposition MP, the home minister yesterday night told Prothom Alo that the proposal to give the Ansar battalion power to arrest offenders would be left out of the bill.

The Ansar battalion in August 2017 sent a proposal to the home ministry seeking power to arrest offenders and investigate crimes as police do. Police objected to the move back then.

JaPa MP Fakhrul Imam told the parliament the Ansar battalion was formed to assist the law enforcement and there would be a conflict if the bill is passed.

The home minister in reply said the police force does not have adequate manpower needed during the election.

The proposed bill can be amended in the parliamentary committee if any conflicting issue arises.

Former election commissioner and analyst Sakhawat Hossain told Prothom Alo yesterday that the move might have been made eying the election but it would be a negative one from the government.

The section-8 of the bill stipulates that an Ansar battalion member shall, if an offence is committed in front of him, with the approval of the superior officer concerned, arrest the offender and immediately hand him over to the police and, as the case may be, as per the directives of the judicial magistrate or the executive magistrate or the official concerned, will frisk the detainee; and enter any place, conduct a search and seize goods.

The bill also proposes capital punishment for mutiny or instigating munity in the battalion.

Former IGP Nurul Haque told Prothom Alo power to detain and seize goods are part of investigation in the code of criminal procedure. There is a possibility of negative impact if the power is given to Ansar.