The ‘Protection of the Family Members of the Father of the Nation Act 2009’ enacted to protect the family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been amended. A proposal to amend the law came up in the advisory council meeting today. There, the Advisory Council gave in-principle and final approval to the draft of the ‘Safety of Family Members of the Father of the Nation (Repeal) Ordinance, 2024’.
The meeting of the advisory council of the interim government was held at the office of the chief adviser in Tejgaon of the capital on Thursday.
It is stated in the preamble that the Father of the Nation’s Family Members Security Act, 2009 (Act No. 63 of 2009) was enacted and promulgated as per the decision of the previous Government. Later on 15/05/2015 gazette was issued to provide special security and facilities as per the said Act. The act was made to give state special benefits to members of only one family which is a clear discrimination. The current interim government has taken a strong commitment to eliminate all discrimination after the popular uprising of anti-discrimination students. It is necessary to issue an ordinance to repeal this Act by taking urgent measures in this regard as the Parliament is ‘at present in a state of disintegration’. In this context, the draft ‘Security of Family Members of the Father of the Nation (Repeal) Ordinance, 2024’ was finally approved by the Advisory Council meeting subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department.
The ‘Special Security Force Act, 2021’ to provide security to the President, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, ‘family members of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ and persons declared as Head of State or Head of Government and very important persons of any State is formulated.
In view of the popular uprising of the students, an interim government has been formed on August 8, 2024, consisting of the Chief Advisor and other advisors. In such a changing situation, it is necessary to ensure the security of the Chief Advisor under the ‘Special Security Force Act, 2021’. Apart from this, under the existing law, the provisions related to the provision of security to the family members of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, cannot be implemented in administrative management, so it is felt necessary to cancel some of the provisions of the said law, with the addition of the security provision of the Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Special Security Force Amendment Ordinance 2024′ was unanimously approved in the advisory council meeting.
With the approval of the Special Security Force amendment proposal, the Special Security Force (SSF) security facility, safe accommodation and other facilities required by the government for the safety of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, their children and their children’s spouses and grandchildren were cancelled.
Under this Act, the same kind of security arrangements are provided for a ‘Very Very Important Person’ (VIP) by the Special Security Force (SSF), it was also called for lifelong security.
Apart from this, to ensure the safety of Bangabandhu’s family members, this Act had the obligation to provide safe and secure housing and other necessary facilities for each member.
Incidentally, after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5 after the student uprising, a writ was filed in the High Court challenging the validity of these two laws.
Sections 2(b), 2(c), 8(1), 8(3), 8(4) and 9(2) of the Security of Family Members of the Father of the Nation Act 2009 and the Special Security Forces Act 2021; Where the family members of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are written, the writ is filed to declare them unconstitutional and invalid.