Six including Nahid, Sarjis, Hasnat, Zara get gunmen to ensure security

The government has taken special initiatives to ensure the personal security of frontline activists, coordinators, parliamentary candidates and top leaders of various political parties participating in the July Movement. Sources concerned said that this decision has been taken in view of the recent increase in political violence and attacks in different parts of the country.

As part of this initiative, it has been decided to provide gunmen for personal security to some leaders who played an important role in the July Movement. At the same time, the issue of granting them personal weapon licenses is also under process. High-level sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police told a media outlet that this decision has been taken based on the necessary security assessment.

According to sources, former advisor to the interim government and convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Nahid Islam, NCP's chief coordinator for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah, senior joint member secretary Tasneem Zara, chief coordinator (northern region) Sarjis Alam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain and chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari have all been permitted to have gunmen.

The decision to strengthen security in the political arena comes at a time when the recent incident of a Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) leader being shot in the head in public in Khulna has created a huge stir across the country. The condition of the leader who was seriously injured in the attack is said to be critical. This incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of political leaders.

Those concerned believe that the government's decision to strengthen the security of vulnerable political figures is being implemented quickly in the context of this recent attack. Multiple sources in the law enforcement agencies have said that gunmen and other security measures will be provided to those who are at high risk in phases.

The government's initiative has generated mixed reactions in the political arena. On the one hand, supporters say that it is the state's responsibility to protect the lives and security of political leaders; on the other hand, critics say that ensuring equal security for all parties would be a fair and democratic step. However, in the current situation, concerned quarters believe that strengthening the security of high-risk leaders is the government's main priority.