CHIEF of Border Guard Bangladesh Maj Gen Abdul Aziz yesterday said the paramilitary force deployed to maintain law and order would use “lethal weapons” if the force and the people came under attack, as per reports of most dailies.
“The BGB does not want to kill people. There is no such instruction on the force. But any kind of attack on the force members or on the people will be resisted. It is the right of a BGB member to use his weapon in self-defence,” the BGB Boss said. “If blockaders carry bombs or petrol bombs, it can lead to the death of five people, and, if such a scene comes into the sight of any BGB member, it is his responsibility to resist them.”
Eighty five platoons (30 personnel in each) of the BGB have been on a round-the-clock patrol to fend off troubles in 17 districts amid the blockade while 80 more platoons have been kept standby and will be deployed whenever needed, the BGB Boss noted at the press conference.
It is interesting that the announcement of the BGB Chief coincided with the death of one Matiur Rahman of Shibganj who was shot in a ‘gunfight’ by RAB members who claimed that the person was an ‘arsonist’. RAB claims that “A pistol, a revolver, two LGs, two shooter guns, five bullets, three magazines, 17 crude bombs, 10 petrol bombs and five locally made sharp weapons were found from the spot “. Protesting the killing, BNP-led 20-party alliance called for a 48-hour hartal across the Chapainawabganj district from Sunday, claiming the man killed was one of their workers.
Our security forces don’t have a sterling reputation of impartiality — they have been accused of high handedness many times — especially in ‘crossfire’ encounters where persons branded as criminals often find themselves on the wrong end of a gun. Hence any top security official has to be triply sure before issuing live rounds of ammunition to all member of a particular force. It is entirely possible that the chance for misuse exists — while the issuing of live ammunition will doubtless have a deterrent effect among real arsonists, it also has the potential of abuse as opposition members may find themselves on the wrong end of the law — either by choice or by accident.
It is most unfortunate that a political solution to the ongoing problem could avert any potentiality for violence and yet the spectre of violence looms over our unhappy people. Will we ever have a political system where parties think of the nation and not just about their thirst for power — if the past is any guide unfortunately not.
“The BGB does not want to kill people. There is no such instruction on the force. But any kind of attack on the force members or on the people will be resisted. It is the right of a BGB member to use his weapon in self-defence,” the BGB Boss said. “If blockaders carry bombs or petrol bombs, it can lead to the death of five people, and, if such a scene comes into the sight of any BGB member, it is his responsibility to resist them.”
Eighty five platoons (30 personnel in each) of the BGB have been on a round-the-clock patrol to fend off troubles in 17 districts amid the blockade while 80 more platoons have been kept standby and will be deployed whenever needed, the BGB Boss noted at the press conference.
It is interesting that the announcement of the BGB Chief coincided with the death of one Matiur Rahman of Shibganj who was shot in a ‘gunfight’ by RAB members who claimed that the person was an ‘arsonist’. RAB claims that “A pistol, a revolver, two LGs, two shooter guns, five bullets, three magazines, 17 crude bombs, 10 petrol bombs and five locally made sharp weapons were found from the spot “. Protesting the killing, BNP-led 20-party alliance called for a 48-hour hartal across the Chapainawabganj district from Sunday, claiming the man killed was one of their workers.
Our security forces don’t have a sterling reputation of impartiality — they have been accused of high handedness many times — especially in ‘crossfire’ encounters where persons branded as criminals often find themselves on the wrong end of a gun. Hence any top security official has to be triply sure before issuing live rounds of ammunition to all member of a particular force. It is entirely possible that the chance for misuse exists — while the issuing of live ammunition will doubtless have a deterrent effect among real arsonists, it also has the potential of abuse as opposition members may find themselves on the wrong end of the law — either by choice or by accident.
It is most unfortunate that a political solution to the ongoing problem could avert any potentiality for violence and yet the spectre of violence looms over our unhappy people. Will we ever have a political system where parties think of the nation and not just about their thirst for power — if the past is any guide unfortunately not.
