How SSF got only 5 mins to flee Ganabhaban, leaving all tactical gear
It was a triumphant day for protesters fighting to oust the AL government, but for Special Security Force (SSF) personnel guarding Ganabhaban, it was a nightmare.
They had just about “five minutes” to run for their lives when thousands stormed the prime minister’s residence that afternoon, soon after Sheikh Hasina fled the country on 5 August.
SSF personnel had a stock of tactical gear at Ganabhaban. With only moments to respond, they left all equipment behind and fled with just the small arms they had on them, seeking refuge in nearby Sangsad Bhaban, the parliament building.
When people took over Sangsad Bhaban, the SSF men quickly removed their weapons and uniforms, storing them in the building’s vaults. To save themselves, they mingled with the agitators in civilian clothes.
Upon later inspection, the vaults containing arms and ammunition at Ganabhaban and Sangsad Bhaban were found missing and the SSF suspects the items were stolen by miscreants disguised as protestors.
A damage report by the SSF reveals that a range of costly tactical equipment — such as advanced assault rifles, sniper rifles, flashbang grenades, anti-drone systems, wireless communication devices, and a large stock of ammunition — worth over Tk5 crore, was either looted or destroyed at Ganabhaban and Sangsad Bhaban that day.
The SSF formed three inquiry commissions to assess the loss of arms, ammunition, operational equipment, and other SSF property.
These commissions already reviewed the current inventory at the Ganabhaban and Sangsad Bhaban. Their findings have been compiled into three reports and sent to the SSF headquarters, the Finance Ministry, and other relevant government departments.
The agency has calculated an estimated total loss of Tk5.28 crore with arms and magazines worth Tk11.62 lakh, ammunition and grenades Tk11.44 lakh, communication and operational equipment Tk2.63 crore, IT and intelligence equipment Tk1.55 crore, vehicles Tk14 lakh, and other goods worth Tk74 lakh.
What the reports say
The SSF uses advanced weapons and ammunition, high-tech vehicles, and operational and communication equipment to safeguard the president, prime minister, chief adviser, and other high-profile individuals. These resources are primarily stored securely at the residences, offices, and other locations of these VIPs.
According to the SSF reports, seen by The Business Standard, the operation room at the Ganabhaban was equipped with two advanced vaults, each weighing 100 kg, for storing arms and ammunition. One vault housed two SMG T-56 rifles, while the other contained 9,498 rounds of live ammunition.
The report details the events of 5 August: “When agitators, including students, breached the gates and scaled the boundary wall of Ganabhaban, the six SSF members on duty had only five minutes to escape.
“During this brief window, they left their weapons, ammunition, and wireless equipment behind and retreated to the nearby Parliament building.”
It stated, “When agitators entered the Parliament building, the SSF agents managed to secure six pistols and 200 rounds of ammunition in a vault within the operation room and changed into civilian clothes to blend in with the crowd.
“The subsequent inspection of the Parliament building revealed that the vault was missing, with the arms and ammunition seemingly taken by protesters posing as agitators.”
Additionally, two anti-drone guns and an anti-drone system were installed on the roof of the Ganabhaban. The report noted that SSF personnel could not remove these items due to time constraints.
All VIP residences and Parliament buildings are equipped with wireless sets for communication with the law-enforcing agencies for security operations. However, SSF members could not retrieve these devices.
SSF recommendations
The SSF in these reports recommended that law enforcement agencies take extensive measures to recover the lost weapons and ammunition.
To prevent similar incidents in the future, they suggested forming a separate Board of Officers to secure SSF’s vaults.
Additionally, the SSF has recommended updating the privacy codes of all its wireless devices to secure communication on a new network and has called for the immediate repair of damaged equipment and vehicles.
The agency also recommended the purchase of new arms, ammunition, and equipment this fiscal year to modernise and enhance operational capabilities, requesting additional budget if necessary.
