SANGSAD BHABAN, Nov 2, 2023 (BSS) - The Ansar Battalion Bill, 2023 was passed today in parliament inserting provisions for death penalty for different crimes, including mutiny and provocation for rebellion.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan moved the bill which was unanimously passed by voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
 
According to the proposed law, there will be two courts to hold trial for internal crimes of Ansar battalion members. One is 'Summary Ansar Battalion Court' to be headed by an additional director, and another is 'Special Ansar Battalion Court' to be headed by the director general.
 
Serious crimes like committing mutiny, instigating for revolt, creating ground for mutiny, and engaging in conspiracy will be tried in the Special Ansar Battalion Court. The maximum punishment for such crimes is death penalty.
 
Besides, the hearing of other serious crimes related to the punitive provisions, ranging from life imprisonment to a minimum of five years of imprisonment, will be held in special courts.
 
Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam said Ansar was formed to assist the law enforcing agencies. "But according to sections 7 and 8 of the bill, the Ansar forces can't do what the police do."
 
The home minister, in reply, said that during any disaster, Ansar members cooperate with other forces.
 
He also mentioned that during the elections, the police force was not enough to maintain law and order. For that purpose, some six lakh Ansar members have been recruited till now.

The minister mentioned that the same number of Ansar forces should be recruited during the coming elections. He said that the government has no plan to create Ansar as a parallel force to the police.