The government is planning to issue guidelines to all ministries and divisions on their roles during violent situations to curb untoward incidents and save public property. The home ministry has prepared a draft guideline after getting instructions from the top, sources in the ministry said. The guidelines would be sent to all ministries and divisions by the cabinet division or the home ministry soon after it is finalised by the authorities concerned.
This comes in the aftermath of the recent violence and arson indulged in by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-Shibir and the Hefazat-e-Islam in the name of movement.
As per the draft guideline, the government is likely to form a high-power committee for better coordination among ministries and divisions for taking measures during violence. The committee will ask ministers and officials to take steps from the centre to the grassroots level to build awareness by holding seminars and workshops.
As per the draft guideline, the police headquarters will play a role in finding out ways to safeguard members of law enforcement agencies to avoid physical harm while tackling violent situations. The police will also be asked to keep a close watch on troublemakers.
Regarding the role of the telecommunication ministry during violence, the guideline says: “Activists of political parties and Islamic organisations are vandalising vehicles, setting on fire public and private property by assembling after sending SMS on cellphones and then leaving the scene. It will be possible to curb such activities if the authorities block the SMS. The ministry should take measures after coordinating with law enforcement agencies.”
For the foreign ministry, it says: “There is a complains that some political parties and non-government organisations (NGOs) are collecting huge sums of money from some Middle East countries for carrying out a propaganda against the government in the name of protecting Islam. They are also collecting funds from expatriate Bangladeshi businessmen in western countries. The foreign ministry should ask the Bangladesh ambassadors in foreign missions abroad to hold workshops and seminars and even meet officials of foreign countries to explain the government’s views.”
For the labour ministry, the draft guideline urges talks with industrialists, especially garment manufacturers, and leaders of workers’ unions to prevent labour unrest.
As per the draft guideline, the power and energy resources ministry should take security measures to protect power stations, grid lines, sub-stations and gas transmission lines during violence.
The guideline mentions that activists of the Jamaat-Shibir and other organisations destroyed power sub-stations by setting them on fire at Chapainawabganj, removed rail tracks and burnt train coaches and vandalised or set ablaze hundreds of vehicles. They also carried out arson attacks on high-rise buildings, shopping malls and small shops across the country.
It said the country loses Tk. 2,000 crore for a daylong shutdown. But there are several other losses which cannot be expressed in financial terms, such as death of citizens, injuries, educational loss and physiological-psychological disturbance at home. Moreover, the nation’s image in the eyes of the world is dented.
-With The Independent input
