Bangladesh News

The government has decided to deploy army across the country in aid of the civil administration to maintain the law and order. But the time for army to roll onto the streets has not been fixed.

However, Mahbubul Alam, adviser for information, told the media after a meeting of the council of advisers at 9:15pm that the issue of army deployment was not discussed in the council’s meeting attended by all advisers.

“I am not aware of any such circular,” Mahbubul said.

The circular about the decision for army deployment signed by the home secretary was sent to the district administrators in the afternoon much before the council of advisers’ meeting at night.

According to meeting sources, President and Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Iajuddin Ahmed did not make any mention about the decision to deploy army to the advisers.

The decision did not come from the council of advisers to the caretaker government, said sources.

The government yesterday sent letters to the deputy commissioners (DC) and the field level officials, directing them to get prepared to facilitate matters for the military forces.

“The government has decided to deploy military forces to aid the law enforcement agencies in maintaining the law and order,” reads the letter signed by Home Secretary SM Jaharul Islam.

“It is requested to have a sufficient number of magistrates ready to discharge their duties whenever needed,” continues the letter.

Meanwhile, the cabinet division has sent a letter to the DCs.

Director of Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) of the defence ministry Lt. Col. Anisur Rahman Chowdhury told The Daily Star last night that the army has yet to receive any order for deployment.

Signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Maleka Parvin, it asked the recipients to take immediate measures to gear up the magistrates for making the armed forces’ job easier.

Copies of the letters were sent also to the divisional commissioners.

On receiving the letters, the district administrations and field level officials have started vacating the circuit houses, rest houses and other government dormitories for the army men. They have been taking other preparations as well, report our district correspondents.

Rumours of army deployment have been rife since October 29 when President Iajuddin Ahmed took oath as the chief adviser of the caretaker government.

The sources said the troops are ready to come out at short notice.

As per the constitution, the president may call in the military to help the civil administration in enforcement of the law, said sources.

In his address to the armed forces on November 8, President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed admitted that the forces had been kept on the alert for some time for untoward incidents in the country.

Lauding the army’s role, he said they have proved their neutrality and manifested professionalism and tolerance when the country was going through a period of unrest on the eve of power transfer late last month.

The decision to deploy army was taken yesterday when the Awami League-led 14-party alliance went on an indefinite blockade across the country.

Although no major incidents of violence was reported on the first day of the blockade, life and trade across the country was severely disrupted as the demonstrators closed down all the ports and blockaded roads, rail and waterways.