Interim govt decides to amend SSF law scrapping special security for Hasina, family

The council of Advisers with Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair on Thursday decided to amend the Special Security Force Act 2021 lifting special security for deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her close relatives.

“Against the backdrop of student-people mass upsurge the interim government has been formed on August 8, 2024 comprising the Chief Adviser and other advises,” the chief adviser’s office (CAO) said in a statement following a meeting of the advisory council’s meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Jamuna office.

It added that in the changed scenario “it is not possible to implement under administrative management the provisions relating to ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s family’ in line with the existing law”.

The statement said the installation of the new interim government required the security of the chief adviser, reports BSS.

The statement said it was felt some of the provisions were required to be scrapped and therefore the council unanimously decided to amend the Special Security Force (SSF) Act, 2021.

The statement said that the Advisory Council gave final approval to the draft "Security of Family Members of the Father of the Nation (Repeal) Ordinance, 2024" subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting advisory council member Syeda Rizwana Hasan said “The interim government was the outcome of an anti-discrimination movement”.

Rizwana, who is entrusted with the portfolio of environment, forest and climate change ministry said the council took the decision to amend the law considering it “discriminatory”.

She said Bangladesh signed the Instrument of Accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, “demonstrating its commitment to investigate each and every case of enforced disappearances”.

“The Chief Advisor has signed the instrument. About 700 people are still missing due to enforced disappearance. Different organisations including ‘Mayer Dak’ are working on this issue,” she said.

She underscored the need for formulating a mechanism that none can make any enforced disappearance by using the law enforcement and security agencies cashing in on the power.

“Many of us are victims of enforced disappearance. . . .we have signed the convention as no citizen can be forcibly disappeared by any forces or any means on the plea of anti-government activities, deteriorating law and order situation and national security,” Rezwana said.

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted in New York on December 20, 2006.

Rizwana said the interim government has decided to cancel the provision of whitening black money as part of reforms in various sectors saying “a clear decision has been taken against the provision of whitening black money” as the government gave importance to ethics related to the issue.