Bangladesh army is working along with the law enforcement agencies to prevent attacks and sabotage at important installations or Key Point Installations across the country and ensure their security.
鈥楾he issues are regularly reviewed with other law enforcement agencies,鈥� said colonel-staff of military operation directorate under the army headquarters colonel Intekhab Haider Khan while briefing reporters at Dhaka Cantonment Thursday noon.
When his attention was drawn to secretariat fire, colonel Intekhab said that the incident just occurred, and they had yet to receive detailed information. However, the army was working on the security of important establishments.
In response to another question, he said that how long the army would serve in the field was a matter of the government鈥檚 decision. 鈥楾he army is working to maintain law and order according to the government鈥檚 decision. Therefore, the army鈥檚 withdrawal depends on the government鈥檚 decision.鈥�
He also said that the army had taken training to take pressure while maintaining law and order. However, the army was working in coordination with other law enforcement agencies to keep law and order.
In response to another question regarding security risk in the Cox's Bazar area, colonel Intekhab said that there was no threat to the sovereignty of the country of security at the moment.
鈥楾he army in the area has always on alert. If there ever is a security threat, the army is ready to take action accordingly. Moreover, the Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard and the law enforcement agencies are working on the Rohingya infiltration.鈥�
When asked about the arson attack on Tripura community in Bandarban district, he said that the incident occurred due to a land dispute and no other reason.
鈥楾hough incidents related to law and order has occurred there has been no deterioration. In this regard, the army is continuing to work in coordination with the police and others to keep the law and order situation tolerable,鈥� he said.
Earlier in a written statement, colonel Intekhab said that members of Bangladesh army had recovered 28 illegal fire arms and 424 rounds of ammunition, conducting drives across the country in the past one month since November 28.
During the period, the army played an active role in controlling 67 unstable situations and 13 main road blockades arising from such situations in various industrial areas of the country, mainly in Gazipur, Ashulia and Savar areas. In addition, they have been working to keep the factories running in coordination with all concerned, including the police, BGMEA, owners, workers and the concerned ministries. As a result, all but one of the country鈥檚 2,093 garment factories are currently operational.
Apart from the industrial area, the army members have also controlled 45 different types of disorderly situations in the last one month. Of which five were related to educational institutions, three to government organisations/offices, seven were political conflicts and 30 were other types of incidents. In addition, on December 19, the army members provided direct assistance to the police in the attempted robbery at Rupali Bank in Keraniganj, which made it possible to quickly bring the incident under control without any incident.
Besides, 200 suspected drug dealers or people associated with drugs have been arrested in joint operations along with recovery of a good amount of illegal drugs, such as yaba, phensedyl, illegal liquor, etc. Around 1,405 people involved in various types of crimes were also arrested from different parts of the country during the joint drives.
The army personnel worked with law enforcement agencies and religious leaders to ensure that the recently concluded Christmas celebrations of Christians across the country. This year, 4,241 churches across the country celebrated Christmas without any incidents.
In addition to these tasks, the army is also continuously performing its duties of maintaining communal harmony in the country, ensuring the security of foreign diplomats and embassies, maintaining peace and order in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and providing security to the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals camp areas in Cox鈥檚 Bazar.