Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday withdrew the special security accorded to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close relatives, days after their diplomatic passports were cancelled.
The Advisory Council, headed by Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, decided to amend the Special Security Forces Act 2021 to remove the special security of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close relatives, the official BSS news agency reported.
Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin dissolved parliament after 76-year-old Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5.
Sheikh Hasina currently faces more than 75 cases in Bangladesh, almost half of which are murder charges.
“In the backdrop of the massive agitation by students and the public, an interim government has been formed on 8 August 2024, which will consist of the Chief Advisor and other advisors,” the Chief Advisor Office (CAO) said in a statement after the Advisory Council meeting.
The statement said that this law was made and implemented following the decision of the previous government. After this, a gazette was issued under this law on May 15, 2015 to provide special security and benefits to Sheikh Hasina and her close relatives.
“This law was made to provide special state benefits only to members of one family, which is clearly discrimination.” The interim government said it was firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination.
It said that due to the changed scenario “it is not possible to implement the provisions relating to the family of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under administrative management in accordance with the existing law.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Advisory Council member Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, “The interim government is the result of the anti-discrimination movement.”
Syeda Rizwana, who holds the portfolio of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said the council had decided to amend the law considering it “discriminatory”.
Recently, the Home Ministry has cancelled the diplomatic passports of Sheikh Hasina, her advisors, former cabinet members and all members of the 12th Parliament. The diplomatic passports of their spouses and children have also been cancelled with immediate effect.
Sayeeda Rizwana said Bangladesh on Thursday signed the document of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, “signalling its commitment to investigate every case of enforced disappearance”.
“The chief adviser has signed the document. About 700 people are still missing due to enforced disappearances.”
The International Convention to Protect All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted in New York on 20 December 2006.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
