Ansar members will be able to arrest criminals

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan placed the Ansar Battalion Bill-2023 in the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday, giving the Anasar members the power to arrest criminals and search suspected persons.

The bill sent to the respective scrutiny committee for further examination. The committee was asked to submit its report within three working days.

According to the proposed law,  a battalion member shall, in the case of an offense committed against him, with the approval of the superior officer concerned, arrest the offender and immediately hand him over to the police, and, as the case may be, on the direction of the judicial magistrate, the executive magistrate, or the officer responsible for the purpose, search the person, enter, and can search any place and seize the goods.

One is ‘Summary Ansar Battalion Court’ to be headed by an additional director, and another is ‘Special Ansar Battalion Court’ to be headed by the director general.

Serious crimes like committing mutiny, instigating for revolt, creating ground for rebellion, and engaging in conspiracy will be tried in the Special Ansar Battalion Court. The maximum punishment for such crimes is the death penalty.

Opposing the bill, Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam said that this law might create Ansar as a parallel force to the police.

He asked the Home Minister to take back the bill and place it before the House afresh.

The Home Minister, in reply, said that during any disaster, Ansar members cooperate with other forces.