Days after revoking the diplomatic passports, the Bangladesh interim government on Thursday withdrew the special security cover accorded to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her close relatives.
The council chaired by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus decided to amend the Special Security Force Act 2021 lifting special security for former PM Hasina and her close relatives, the official BSS news agency reported.
Amid violent protests in Bangladesh, Hasina (76) fled to India on August 5. Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin dissolved Parliament. Over 300 died in the protests by the country since June.
Hasina faces over 75 cases in Bangladesh with many murder charges.
"Against the backdrop of student-people mass upsurge the interim government has been formed on August 8, 2024, comprising the Chief Adviser and other advises,” the chief adviser's office (CAO) said in a statement following an advisory council meeting.
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The statement noted that the act was enacted and enforced following the previous government's decision. Subsequently, a gazette was issued, on May 15, 2015, under this law to provide special security and benefits to Hasina and her close relatives.
The law was clear discrimination as it was made solely to provide special state benefits to the members of one family.
The interim government is firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination, it said.
Because of the changed scenario, it is not possible to implement under administrative management the provisions relating to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family' in line with the existing law, it said.
Talking to the reporters after the meeting, advisory council member Syeda Rizwana Hasan, said that the interim government was the outcome of an anti-discrimination movement.
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the diplomatic passports of Hasina, her advisers, former cabinet members, and all members of the 12th Parliament. Diplomatic passports for their spouses and children have also been revoked with immediate effect.
Rizwana said Bangladesh signed the Instrument of Accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on Thursday, demonstrating its commitment to investigate each and every case of enforced disappearances.
About 700 people are still missing due to enforced disappearance.
