The Home Ministry has sought permission from the Election Commission for procuring arms for Ansar and VDP members using a Tk12.18 crore fund allocated during the 10th parliamentary polls for procuring their uniforms and necessary equipments.
The ministry sent letter to the commission on March 23 seeking the permission.
In the letter, the ministry said it was not possible to procure uniforms and necessary equipment for Ansar and VDP members during the election time and at present, the Ansar-VDP does not have necessary arms and equipment.
The ministry letter also mentioned that it seeks to procure shotguns for the force.
Sources of the commission said the EC has sent a letter to the finance ministry to know whether it has any objections regarding the home ministry’s request.
Senior Assistant Secretary Enamul Haque yesterday confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune.
“If the finance ministry has no objection, the home ministry can procure arms using the election budget allocation,” Haque also said.
Similarly, EC Deputy Secretary Shahjahan Khan said the commission will not oppose the procurement if finance ministry allocates fund.
During a meeting of the commission, the EC also concluded that it was necessary to provide sufficient arms to Ansar and VDP so that they can play an important role in future elections, EC official said.
The home ministry letter also noted that most of the Ansar personnel, out of 225,000 deployed during the elections, performed their duties without being armed, adding that police authorities also did not provide rifles to Ansar personnel for election duty.