4 armed guards for every UNO in Rajshahi div

Every upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Rajshahi division started getting at least four armed members of Ansar and Village Defence Party for their personal safety and security at their official residence from yesterday.

Shah Ahmed Fazle Rabbi, director of Rajshahi Range Ansar and VDP, confirmed it to The Daily Star, saying that the number of security personnel is likely to increase in coming days.

Deploying at least 268 armed members of Ansar and VDP in all 67 upazilas began on Friday, he said, adding that the process completed yesterday.

The Ansar members would primarily guard residences of the UNOs and they would follow the UNOs wherever they go, he said.

The decision was taken following a home ministry directive that was forwarded to Rajshahi Range Ansar through the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday, he said.

"The UNOs had been demanding security to their residences and offices for a long time over different issues. The decision came after the attack on Ghoraghat UNO Wahida Khanam," said director Akbar Ali.

"We have received verbal instruction from the government high-ups to take preparations for increasing the number," he said.

"When additional forces were ordered, there would be separate security arrangements at the UNOs' offices and residences," he said.

In Rajshahi, four armed Ansar members have been seen guarding the residence of the UNO of Tanore upazila since Saturday morning.

Rajshahi's DC Abdul Jalil told reporters that all nine UNOs in the district have received the security arrangement at their residences.

On September 3, Ghoraghat UNO Wahida Khanam was attacked by miscreants at her official residence. She received critical injuries. Her father was also injured in the attack.