Ansars guarding roads, rail tracks in Dinajpur unpaid for 2 months

As many as 892 Ansar members engaged in special duty to guard highways and rail tracks at different places in the district for preventing destructive activities have remained unpaid since their deployment in mid January this year. 
Against the backdrop of frequent bomb attacks and sabotage during the non-stop countrywide blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance since January 6, the government arranged special security measures in Dinajpur, as elsewhere in the country, said district officials Ansar and Village Development Police (VDP).
In the district, 400 Ansar members are guarding the railway tracks while the 492 others are deployed on the highways. 
Each Ansar man is entitled to get Tk 320 and their team leader Tk 350 a day for the special duty. 
"We could not do other works, since we joined this highly responsible job," said Alamir Hossain who was found on duty at Uchitpur of Dinajpur–Dhaka highway in Chirirbandar upazila. 
"It's a seriously responsible job. We need to remain alert round the clock," said Harun Ur Rashid at Kawgaon in Dinajpur Sadar upazila. 
The 400 Ansar men have been guarding the railway lines from Bochaganj to the end point of Hakimpur upazila via Biral, Dinajpur Sadar, Chirirbandar, Parbatipur, Phulbari, and Birampur upazilas. 
"When I got the job in January, work was available in the farms as it was the peak harvesting season. But I missed the opportunity due to joining this special duty to guard the road. Now my family is badly suffering as I could not send any money to them," said an Ansar member seeking anonymity. 
Several others are also in the same boat. 
AKM Ziaul Alam, district commandant of Dinajpur unit of Ansar and VDP, said, "We have got the money for payment of Ansar men guarding railway tracks and the disbursement will start within 10 days. But we are yet to get the money for payment of the Ansar members guarding roads and highways."