Nationalisation of general Ansars difficult in current scenario
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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