BGB deployed to tackle shutdown

The government has deployed border guards in the capital ahead of Monday’s countrywide shutdown sponsored by Jamaat-e-Islami, an official said on Sunday.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) men would be stationed at points to mainly aid police who have been kept alert against any effort by the fundamentalist party, which could disrupt order during the daylong strike.

The paramilitary personnel started patrolling the streets in Dhaka from Sunday evening.

BGB Director General Aziz Ahmed told bdnews24.com: “The BGB personnel were deployed to mainly assist police.”

Asked whether the border guards would be deployed in other districts, he said, “Not for now, but will be, if needed.”

The BGB personnel started guarding the streets of the capital hours after Parliament passed the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Act Bill-2013 allowing trials of parties and organisations accused of backing ‘crimes against humanity’ during the War of Independence in 1971.

The special war crimes tribunals are trying top Jamaat leadership for alleged war crimes and two judgements have said the party was indeed involved in atrocities during the Liberation War.

The amended law will also allow equal right for appeal to both defence and prosecution against any verdict.

Jamaat had called the shutdown for Monday protesting against the deaths of ‘its activists’ in Cox’s Bazar on Friday amid a widespread call to ban the fundamentalist party.

Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir have been demanding a halt to the war crimes trial but a nationwide uprising has called for ‘complete justice’ for all war criminals.bdnews24.com

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