Weather | Dhaka The cabinet yesterday approved a draft law to ensure security of the family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with immediate effect.
The weekly cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, gave the approval in principle to the proposed law titled “Father of the Nation's Family Members Security Act 2009.”
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder placed the draft of the law at the meeting, which endorsed it after a brief discussion.
“Necessary measures will be taken under the proposed law to ensure foolproof security of the family members of Bangabandhu,” the home secretary told The Daily Star after the meeting.
Home ministry officials said the law needs to be formulated mainly to protect the two daughters of Bangabandhu--Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana.
The previous AL government passed a law on June 21, 2001 for providing full-time security of Special Security Force (SSF) to Hasina and Rehana. Hasina was then given the Ganabhaban, official residence of the prime minister, while Rehana was given a residence in Dhanmondi, stirring a huge controversy.
The BNP-Jamaat alliance government however scrapped the law in December 2001. The present government has decided to formulate a new law in line with a similar law that was scrapped by the BNP-led government.
Hasina survived several assassination attempts. On August 21, 2004, Hasina, the then leader of the opposition in parliament, survived a grenade attack while addressing a rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. The attack left 24 people including AL leader Ivy Rahman dead.
In 2000, 80-kg RDX was found in Gopalganj where Hasina's helicopter was supposed to land. She was the prime minister at that time. She also came under intense fire in Chittagong in 1988 that left several people killed.
Sources said Hasina and Rehana might get round-the-clock SSF and other security as per the draft law. They may even get special homes.
The prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the meeting that the cabinet meeting also approved Mobile Court Law and National Information and Communication Technology Policy 2009.
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009 05:00 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
some people never learn and don't even see or read what everybody else can see and read! i am not sure if laws can protect individuals particularly public figures. just see what the opinion poll in the daily star says - nearly 80% of the readers do not endorse the draft law.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 10:51 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Draft law approved to ensure security Bangabandhu's family members, on sense this is good , but what will the future ? The political parties specially two grand party are not play good political culture, after their period, this law will face criticism and ruling party never agree to protect this law. So i think this is not necessary for Bangabandhu's family member because people's like them, and people's ensure their security naturally.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 07:29 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
How could the Prime Minister herself preside over a meeting where such a draft law was approved? Remids me of Khaleda Zia presiding over the meeting in which she was named the President for Life of BNP.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 09:37 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Good initiative, but it would have been better if this law was presented to the cabinet chaired by other Sr Minster, (Probably) instead of in presence of the Prime Minister, (the daughter of Banghubondu).
This is onus of the Government to ensure protection of each of the citizen from the hands of miscreants.
We should keep faith on the Almighty for our sate and security instead of fully dependant on the Security forces or other forces, they are always considering an auxiliary forces.
As regards to housing, that should be made in such a way, that should not instigate any controversy or question and to be made with a clean motive, clarity maintaining transparency, if it is needed .
WE should do our best to other national leaders in best possible ways considering their contributions in the country as well as in war of Liberation.
Monday, July 6, 2009 11:29 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Congratulations to the Awami led government for passing this draft law - after all these two ladies are clearly more important than other insecure Bangladeshis. Now the government should allot Gono Bhaban and State Guest house Padma (Baily Road) to Honourable Haisna and Honourable Rehana soonest. Bangladesh can't exist without these ladies after all....
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 04:49 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
The Awami league led- coalition must also promulgate laws to protect Joy, Putul - Haisna's children and Rehana's children as well. Please don't forget their foreign spouses as they need protection too. The Awamis' must protect the Bongabandhu dynasty as the Awamis and their coalition partners existence depends on the existence of this family.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 10:25 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
This is absolutely abuse of power to grab government-property what was done in 2001! Under the proposed law the would-be beneficiaries would get posh residences, precious vehicles, specicial security forces and so on. However, one of the beneficiaries always prefers residing abroad than home. On the contrary, what about our security who always lay on the soil of Bangladesh? If Bangabandhu is father of our nation, we are his sons and daughters. So why we should not get security and other facilities as family members of father of the nation? So far we mass people can realize that circumstances of all the attacks on Sheikh Hasina seem to be insiders rather than outsiders. This could be trickery to gain people's sympathy! One day people will not believe her as that story we read in school!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 11:28 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
And the rest of us, 150 million people don't count?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 11:34 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
It's the responsibility of the Prime Minister and her cabinet to ensure security of the ordinary people.
When the law and order situation of the country has gone so grim, people expected the Prime Minister to act to save people but instead she has found it suitable to enact
a law to save herself and her sister ignoring the need of the hour.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 02:15 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
What was the security of BDR officers murdered at Pilkhana? Till today none of the heads of intelligence services have been sacked, while some are busy pleasing the PM by drafting different foul laws. Dear PM, please note that these associates of yours are ruining your image of "Daughter of Bangabandhu".
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 03:40 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
We, general people who vote AL with huge trust and expectations, though that this government will be the government of 150 million people and think about all people of Bangladesh. But we are very disappointed to see AL can not think out side of the frame.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 03:47 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
It is very disappointed government is very busy for few persons they are not thinking the rest 150 million ordinary citizens of Bangladesh.