Bangladesh
Ansar AGB Unit in US Ambassador's security, will pay fees for job
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 26 October 2023: The Special Guard Battalion Unit (AGB) of the Ansar Army has started providing security to the US Ambassador and Embassy in Dhaka in exchange of money. They started working from last Sunday.
It has been reported that the specially trained battalion of Ansar forces has started to provide personal security (close protection), vehicular movement and road protection (route protection) of the US ambassador. The AGB unit participated in an orientation training at the US Embassy on October 15 and 19 before the duty. On October 11, a team of US Embassy security experts agreed to take over the physical security, vehicular movement and route protection of the US ambassador through AGB members and signed a memorandum of understanding. It was signed by the regional security officer on behalf of the US Embassy and a director on behalf of the Ansar forces.
Confirming the matter, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force Deputy Director (Project-Training) Public Relations Officer (Ext. Duties) Md. Zahidul Islam told Jago News that a team of 16 people is working at the US Embassy. AGB has started working only in US Embassy. Discussions on others have not yet begun. As per the note verbale given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the issue of payment has been fixed.
Ansar Guard Battalion (AGB) units were formed in the Ansar army through specialized training to deal with crisis situations. The members of this unit are trained as highly skilled Ansar members through quick response training, special tactical training and special protection training, special weapons and tactical training courses.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed to employ this force for security. Accordingly, if an embassy wants to hire a trained Ansar member for additional security, it will have to spend US$300 or 33,000 taka per month (110 taka per dollar). Embassies can also hire vehicles from Ansar battalions for additional security. In this case, they have to spend 1 thousand dollars or 1 lakh 10 thousand taka per month for a car. However, the condition is that the fuel cost of the car should be paid to the concerned embassy or agency.
