Ansar protests by blocking the road demanding nationalization of jobs

Ansar members have taken to the streets for the fourth consecutive day demanding nationalization of jobs. Due to their rally in front of the press club, the police blocked the road from Topkhana Road to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hundreds of thousands of Ansar members started the rally on the road in front of the National Press Club around 8 am on Sunday.

Ansar commander Shahabuddin said in the rally, “Our demand is one point… that is the nationalization of Ansar jobs.” Our rightful demand was not accepted by the previous government, we started a movement with this demand to the interim government.

Ansar members are participating in this program wearing their clothes. They also have the national flag in their hands.

An Ansar member named Salim said, “When the dictatorial government fell, when their allies, the police and the RAB, were on the run, we were on the streets to provide security to the people. Now we are being neglected. Our just demands are not being heeded.

“We will not leave the streets until our demands are met… that is our resolve.”

After protesting by blocking the Shahbag intersection in Dhaka on Thursday midnight demanding nationalization of jobs, the protesting Ansar members are taking to the streets in different places every day. Even on Sunday, Ansar members working in various institutions stopped working to join the program.

Ansar member from Uttara Metrorail Station. Siddiqur Rahman said, our demand is only one, and that is nationalization. I will not leave the road till nationalization is done.

Ansar member of Dhaka Medical College unit protesting in Shikshabhaban area. Qayyum Hossain said that the movement will continue until the demands are met. Our demand is only one, nationalization. I have been on the road since morning. I have given an ultimatum to the government to stay on the road till the 30th. If you don't agree, more strict movement will be made.

Ashadul Islam, an Ansar member of Narsingdi AK Khan Co. unit, said, I am on the streets until the demands are met. I have given an ultimatum to the government from 25th to 30th, if they don't comply, there will be severe agitation.

Ansar members have started coming to Dhaka from all over the country since Saturday night, Ashadul said, “many people came last night, we came in the morning. Ansar members are coming to Dhaka from all over the country.

Meanwhile, ordinary passengers are suffering due to Ansar's program. There has been massive traffic jam in the surrounding roads and lanes including Old Paltan, Vijayanagar, Gulistan, Segunbagicha.

That's why the movement

These members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Forces work on a contract of 540 taka per day according to the demands of various organizations. Apart from this, ration facilities are allocated for them through the Ministry of Home Affairs on behalf of the forces. They now want permanent appointment.

If any organization feels that they need manpower for immediate security response, they apply to Ansar and Village Defense Force Headquarters for a specific number of manpower.

Later, a fixed number of members were appointed there for a period of three years, provided that the members were provided with lodging and weapons and two months' advance salary.

The number of such Ansar members is about 70 thousand across the country. Among them, about 55 thousand members are working in various organizations, who are paid a salary of 540 taka per day by the respective organizations.

The remaining 15,000 members are on 'rest time'. Members on 'rest' are sent when there is a new demand of an organization or when the contract period of incumbent members in an earlier organization expires. Apart from this, the members on 'rest' are also sent to various duties subject to the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs in case of emergency.

After the fall of the government on August 5, Ansar members were sent in charge of traffic management and police station security on unpoliced ​​roads.

These members of Ansar are trained as 'volunteers'. But training is not a job. After the training, a smart card is given by the force. Depending on the needs of an organization, they are assigned to different places.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday urged the Ansars, who started the agitation for job nationalization, to accept some of their demands as 'reasonable' and return to work.

A notification said that a committee headed by the director general of Ansar and VDP has been formed, after receiving the report of the committee, a 'reasonable solution' will be made to the demand.

This committee will review the claims and make logical recommendations and report within 7 working days. Later, the inter-ministerial committee will examine the recommendations and decide the course of action and submit a report to the government.

The circular said that the Chief Adviser was informed about the Ansar's demands, “The Government has reviewed the demands raised by the General Ansar with keen attention and sympathy. Initially some of the claims appeared reasonable.”

The interim government has also decided that no new appointments will be made as general Ansar.

It was also decided that after three years of service, the issue of continuing the service of common Ansars without rest will be examined.

In addition to the assurance, a warning has also been given in the notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs. “The government will not hesitate to take legal action against them if necessary,” the ministry said, commenting that a “handful of provocateurs” were trying to create chaos in this orderly force.

Bangladesh /SBT