Army has provided shelter to ‘individuals whose lives were in danger’: General Waker-uz-Zaman

Staff Correspondent: The Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman said on Tuesday that the Army has provided shelter to individuals whose lives were in danger, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.

He emphasized that the current government is seeking to implement some reforms and hold a free and fair election, and the Army is fully committed to supporting them in achieving these goals.

He made these remarks during a briefing at Rajshahi Cantonment on Tuesday afternoon.

In response to a question about whether the detained Awami League leaders from airports or border posts would be formally arrested, the army chief said that while the army has provided shelter to those whose lives were threatened, anyone against whom there are legal allegations will face justice.

He stressed that the army is committed to preventing any extrajudicial actions against these individuals.

The army chief also highlighted the importance of recovering weapons looted from the police. Several have already been recovered, and the search is ongoing and expressed his hope that the remaining weapons would also be recovered soon.

General Waker reassured that the situation has stabilized and is now under control, thanks to the combined efforts of all parties involved and also acknowledged the support received from the media and expressed gratitude for their cooperation.

He noted that the police are currently under some stress but are gradually resuming their duties effectively. The army continues to provide protection to the police, and once the situation normalizes further, the army will return to its cantonment. Until then, the army will remain engaged.

Regarding concerns about possible harsh measures similar to “Operation Clean Heart” or the “One-Eleven” political interventions, he assured that the army will not adopt such strict approaches. Instead, the army is committed to fully supporting the government’s efforts to implement reforms and ensure a free and fair election.

Addressing questions about foreign pressure, the army chief confirmed that there is no external pressure, although there has been some discussion concerning minority issues.

He mentioned that around 30 incidents related to minority unrest have occurred in 20 districts, but none in the eight districts of the Rajshahi division, which is a positive sign. The army aims to maintain the peaceful environment and continue working towards the country’s progress.

On the matter of army vehicles being burned in Gopalganj, the army chief described it as a misunderstanding. The situation is now normal, and dialogue has been established with the local leaders.

He assured that those responsible for the incident would be investigated and brought to justice.

Earlier, the army chief held a meeting with administrative officials in the Rajshahi region to discuss the situation. Present at the meeting were Dr. Dewan Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi; Anisur Rahman, DIG of Rajshahi Range; Bipul Vijay Talukdar, Metropolitan Police Commissioner; and Shami Ahmed, District Commissioner of Rajshahi, along with officials from RAB-5 and BGB.