Bangladesh: All Troops to Return to Barracks by June

The government has decided to send all army personnel deployed in the field to their respective barracks by June. This decision was made at a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order held yesterday, (Tuesday), presided over by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.

According to the committee's decision, the final withdrawal of army members will commence on June 6. Initially, troops will be pulled back from remote districts. Subsequently, they will be withdrawn in phases from divisional cities and larger districts. Through this phased approach, all members of the army will be pulled out from field duties by the end of June.

During a press briefing yesterday, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting, said, "The magistracy power of the army is no longer in effect following the elections. In the current situation, the presence of the army is primarily considered as a striking force. They are playing a supportive role in ensuring security."

Previously, on July 19, 2024, the then-Awami League government imposed a curfew and deployed the army. Following the ousting of the Awami League on August 5 of that year amidst a mass student-led uprising, the army remained in the field as the police force had collapsed. On September 17 of the same year, the interim government had granted the army magistracy powers.