Army Headquarters has said the interim government will decide the duration of the military's deployment to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order in Bangladesh.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Col Intekhab Haider Khan from the Directorate of Military Operations explained the army's stance on its deployment under the 'In Aid to Civil Power' framework.
Intekhab noted that the army is working alongside law-enforcing agencies to stabilise the country.
"The army was deployed based on the government's decision. It's now up to the government to decide the duration of the deployment," he said.
In a bid to contain the spiralling Anti-discrimination Student Movement protests in July, the ousted Awami League government deployed the army and imposed a curfew.
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on Aug 5, the army has not returned to the barracks. Instead, army officers have been granted magisterial powers to help maintain law and order.
Asked about concerns over potential human rights violations, Intekhab reassured that the army remains "highly vigilant" against such issues.
"There are clear instructions from the highest levels to prevent any human rights violations or extrajudicial killings," he said.
He also mentioned that numerous incidents have occurred that were not reported publicly.
Intekhab said that over 600 arrests have been made so far in the industrial sector, many involving violent incidents. "If timely measures hadn't been taken, with support from other forces, the number of such incidents would have been much higher."
When asked about a video showing army personnel blindfolding a man and taking him away during an operation, he said, "Many actions are taken based on the demands of the situation, but there have been no cases where the army intentionally targeted anyone for killing."
The army official mentioned that the military is working closely with the police, using crime-related information provided by law enforcement.
Since the army was given magisterial powers, crime rates have 'significantly declined', according to him.
"While there hasn't been a deterioration in law and order, the improvements haven't been as substantial as expected. The police force is gradually regaining its full capacity. Efforts to improve law and order are ongoing with the support of other forces." Addressing another question, Intekhab described an incident between an army major and a police officer in Gulshan as a "misunderstanding", stressing that relations between the police and the army remain "very good".
On the army's nationwide deployment, he said, "The army is deployed across the country to help maintain law and order."
"The army is not only protecting lives and key government and non-government organisations, but also assisting the police in regaining its full operational capacity."
Intekhab highlighted the army's role in protecting foreign diplomats, embassies, and factories, and in maintaining communal harmony.
"Efforts are ongoing to curb crime, arrest offenders, and recover illegal weapons. So far, the army has seized over 6,000 weapons and 200,000 rounds of ammunition, and arrested around 2,500 individuals."
In industrial areas, the army has helped manage more than 600 cases of unrest and worked with local stakeholders to keep factories running smoothly, he said. —bdnews24.com
