Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has decided to use lethal force, if necessary, on miscreants carrying petrol bombs, in an attempt to prevent the number of arson victims from climbing any further as the countrywide blockade continues.
“BGB men will injure one person who possesses petrol bombs to save many who might suffer burn injuries once the attack is made. So, it will reduce the number of casualties,” BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said yesterday.
“The BGB does not intend to kill people. The BGB has also not been ordered to do that. But if we see the killing of innocent people and if we are attacked, we will resist it to save lives. BGB [personnel] can use their arms in self-defence, it is their right,” he told journalists after attending the newly-introduced quarterly meeting at the BGB Pilkhana headquarters in Dhaka.
All the members of the force deployed to maintain law and order across the country are equipped with lethal weapons, the BGB chief added.
“You people say what should the BGB do when they see someone hurling petrol bombs. Should the men be resisted? Now, it is time to think if we should open fire to stop these people.
“Our prime duty is to protect the country’s border. But our secondary work is to support the civil administration in protecting people’s lives and properties,” Maj Gen Aziz said.
At present, 85 BGB platoons – each with 30 members – are posted at different parts of the country, while 70 more platoons are ready to join them in tackling the ongoing violence.
The BGB chief’s comments came as blockade-related violence, especially petrol bomb attacks, have so far claimed the lives of at least 25 people since the BNP-led 20-party alliance began its programme on January 6.
Replying to a query, Maj Gen Aziz claimed that the current situation has improved, adding that BGB troops have so far been deployed in 17 of the 35 districts that had sought BGB deployment.
“We have been deploying BGB forces after examining the necessity. In some places, the BGB has been kept on standby,” he said.
Asked about how long the BGB personnel might remain deployed, the BGB DG said: “You should remember 2013. The BGB will stay in the field for as long as the country needs them to provide the people with a sense of security.”
On another note, he said from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning, BGB personnel had helped the law enforcement agencies to provide security to over 35,000 vehicles on the highways.
He admitted that there were some incidents of hurling bombs near some patrolling teams, but claimed that nobody had been hurt.
