The Crime Desk: On September 17, the government gave special executive magistrate powers to the commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Army across the country, including the capital, for 60 days. Yesterday Wednesday was the 59th day of their magistracy. The Army recovered more than 6,000 firearms and 2 lakh rounds of ammunition in raids across the country in the last two months. In these incidents, two and a half thousand people were arrested and handed over to the police.
Besides, the army has controlled more than 600 unstable situations in various industrial areas of the country, including Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, Trishal, and Chittagong.
Colonel Intekhab Haider Khan of the Directorate of Military Operations presented detailed information about these activities of the army yesterday in a press conference at the ‘Officer’s Mess-A’ adjacent to the Banani railway crossing of the army headquarters. He said that in the current situation, the interim government will decide how long the army will remain in the field to control the law and order situation. Because the army has been deployed at the decision of the government. The government will decide how long the army will be in the field. The Army is careful to ensure that magistrate powers are exercised fairly and systematically.
He claimed that the number of crimes has reduced a lot since the army got magisterial powers. The law and order situation did not deteriorate but did not improve as expected. The police force is gradually regaining its effectiveness. Efforts are being made to improve the law and order situation with the help of other forces. In response to a question regarding the recovery of looted weapons of SSF, Colonel Intekhab Haider Khan said, “Heavy weapons of SSF have not been lost. Some pistols are lost. Activities are underway to find it.
Chaos Control: The Army has controlled more than six hundred different types of ‘chaotic situations’ in the last two months. Among them, there were 141 incidents related to educational institutions, 86 incidents related to government organizations and offices, and 98 incidents related to political parties. In the months of September and October, demonstrations were held in the garment industry and other industries in the country. In this regard, Colonel Intekhab Haider Khan said that work is being done to control the unstable situation in various industrial areas of the country and maintain communication with the concerned parties to start the factories.
Currently, army personnel are assisting the government in maintaining law and order in 62 districts of the country. Regarding the role of the army in traffic management, Colonel Intekhab Haider Khan said, ‘The main responsibility of traffic control is the police. Where our help is needed, we are ready to help.’ He said 3295 people injured at different times in the anti-discrimination student movement have been treated at various CMHs in the country. At present, 43 are under treatment at the Army’s Combined Military Hospital.
Aware of preventing extrajudicial killings: Colonel Intekhab Haider Khan said, “The army is very aware of the prevention of human rights violations or extrajudicial killings.” We have orders from the highest leadership in this regard. We try to prevent extrajudicial killings under any circumstances. We are trying our best to prevent human rights violations from happening.
When attention was drawn to a video of army personnel blindfolding a man, Colonel Intekhab said, “A lot needs to be done depending on the situation, but there has been no incident where the army has targeted and killed anyone.” In response to another question, he said that the incident between a major and a police officer in Gulshan was due to a misunderstanding. The relationship between the police and the army is very good. Action has been taken by the police in this regard.
In response to a question about Major Ziaul Haque Zia, dismissed and absconding on charges of militant involvement, he said, “The army does not have any information on this at the moment.” Necessary measures will be taken if information is received. Apart from providing security to foreign diplomats, embassies, and factories, the army is also doing the job of maintaining communal harmony, he said.
