APBn fear potential deterioration of law and order amidst BNP agitation
The directive requires five battalions to maintain essential vehicles and logistics, including fuel and drivers, in a state of readiness for carrying out their assigned tasks
Armed Police Battalion (APBn) headquarters has decided to keep forces on standby for immediate deployment in anticipation of potential disruptions to the law and order situation of the country, largely due to the ongoing agitation led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and allied parties.
In a directive issued on Thursday (21 September), the headquarters asked 350 APBn members — 300 located within Dhaka and 50 stationed outside the capital — to remain on standby within their respective battalions for a duration of one month, from 25 September to 24 October for immediate deployment to control the overall law and order situation when asked.
Among the 350 members, 90 are from 1 APBn Uttara, 50 from 2 APBn Mymensingh, 100 (including 1 ASP) from 5 APBn Uttara, 60 from 11 APBn Uttara and another 50 from 12 APBn Uttara.
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The directive also explicitly requires these five battalions to maintain essential vehicles and logistics, including fuel and drivers, in a state of readiness for carrying out their assigned tasks. They are expected to depart from their respective offices to execute their duties within a 30-minute response time upon receiving deployment orders.
The heightened security measures come in the wake of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's announcement of a series of protest programmes, commencing on 19 September and extending through to 5 October. The key demands of the BNP include the resignation of the government, the dissolution of parliament, the reinstatement of a caretaker government system, and the release of their party chief, Khaleda Zia.
