Bangladesh
SSF Security | Bangabandhu Family SSF to provide security to Bangabandhu's family
Dhaka, November 17: A bill has been passed in the parliament to include the issue of physical security of important persons, including family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh's independence. The activities of the Special Security Force (SSF) are now being carried out with an ordinance of 1986. The bill was passed to make a new law in Bengali by repealing the law made during the military period.
On Tuesday (November 16), Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, who is in charge of the Prime Minister's Office, proposed the passage of the Special Security Forces Bill-2021 in Parliament. Later it was passed by voice vote.
Earlier, the public opinion on the bill was sent to the Verification and Selection Committee and the amendment proposals were disposed of. Two amendments were taken by BNP MP Rumin Farhana and Jatiya Party's Shamim Haider Patwari.
Minister AKM Mozammel Haque introduced the bill in Parliament on September 3. The bill was later sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for scrutiny and report to Parliament. The bill defines the family of the father of the nation as the two daughters of Bangabandhu and their children and, as the case may be, the husband or wife of those children and their children.
Besides, the previous issues have been kept in the law. The issue of providing physical security to the family members and very important people of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been added anew. Important persons declared by the official gazette, heads of state and government of any foreign country will also get protection under this Act.
The bill states that the supervision and leadership of the SSF will be vested in the Prime Minister. The powers of an OC of a police station, including the powers to search, detain and arrest, will be vested in an officer of the SSF across the country to carry out his duties under this Act.
The SSF will provide physical security to the President, the Prime Minister and the family members of the Father of the Nation wherever they are. The SSF will be able to seek assistance from government as well as non-government organizations in case of need. The bill also stipulates that those who are asked for assistance are obliged to give it.
The bill further states that the Special Security Forces Act will be given priority to provide security to Bangabandhu's family members, regardless of the provisions of the 'Father of the Nation Family-Members Security Act-2009'.
