Home Affairs Adviser to the interim government Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said a force like the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was previously asked to turn its back on the border.
He added, “Our men were killed on the border, and the BGB was forced to hold a flag meeting. After killings inside our border, a flag meeting was held, and it was declared that everything is okay.
“I had told the BGB not to show their backs. Enough is enough, no more.”
Sakhawat made the comments to reporters after visiting BGB members – who got injured during the anti-quota protests – at the BGB hospital in Pilkhana on Tuesday afternoon.
The home affairs adviser said “A force like this [BGB] has been turned into a monster. It is not just the BGB, the police, RAB, and Ansar have also been turned into monsters. But these are not anyone's personal forces; these are national forces. As long as I am here, I will uphold justice.”
“We have already taken some action. Those who have made the police into monsters, the fascist propaganda of the fascist party have destroyed these forces; they asked the BGB to turn its back on the border. But the BGB is supposed to protect the border. No more. Inshallah, this will never happen again.”
Regarding the police force, Sakhawat said, “The police are very remorseful. When I came here (Pilkhana), I saw students working with the police. The police are very sorry. They were turned into monsters. We will not forget those who did it, those responsible must be judged.”
When asked about the dismissal of enlisted fascist police officers, the adviser said, “This is a government process, and it is working accordingly. A file with recommendations has already been sent to the President. The matter will be discussed. I will try to confirm the punishment.”
When asked about August 15, Adviser Sakhawat Hossain said, “No decision has been made as yet. We will meet Tuesday afternoon, and there will be a discussion.”
Regarding the security measures on that day, he said, “We will take all kinds of security measures. The police will be there, BGB-RAB will be there. Maybe the army will also be there.”
Addressing the students, he said, “No one can take away your [students’] movement. This movement has an image. And the police are remorseful.”
In response to another question, he said, “Everything has a process. I am listening. Those who were unfairly excluded, and those who were not included – we will see what you are talking about. But we are looking, trying to track down all the accused.”
About the surrender of weapons, the home affairs adviser said, “I have asked to return the weapons. If someone is caught not submitting, they will be punished in two ways. They will be charged with robbery with a prohibited weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon. So, if someone cannot come forward out of fear, they can submit it to someone else.”
Regarding the police uniform, Sakhawat Hossain said, "We want to change the uniform as quickly as possible. We are thinking of forming a police commission so that there is a humanitarian police in the future.
According to the BGB, three members of the force were killed and 130 injured during the anti-quota movement. Several students of Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College were injured in the agitation as well.
Three of them have been treated and three students are currently undergoing treatment at BGB Hospital.
During his visit to the BGB Hospital on Tuesday, the home affairs adviser was BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, and senior officials of BGB headquarters.
