Gunmen assigned to 20 individuals facing security threats

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that armed security personnel have been deployed for 20 individuals, including politicians, who are facing security threats.

The editors of two leading newspapers, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, will also get special armed protection following recent incidents of arson and vandalism at their offices, he added.

The adviser made the remarks after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the Secretariat on Monday, December 22.

The meeting also discussed the issue of the Jagannath University Students’ Union (JnUCSU) election.

Responding to claims by Gono Odhikar Parishad that around 50 individuals could be at risk of attack, Jahangir said intelligence agencies had identified those facing credible threats.

“Those who are on the hit list or considered vulnerable have been provided with gunmen,” he said, adding that the list was jointly prepared by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI), and the Special Branch (SB).

He noted that although armed protection was offered to all individuals identified as being at risk, some declined the security.

According to the adviser, around 20 individuals have so far accepted and received armed security. When asked whether all of them were politicians, he declined to provide further details.

RMM/MHK