The Director of Military Operations Directorate (MOD), Brigadier General Dewan Mohammad Monzur Hossain, announced today that the army has been instructed by the government to withdraw 50% of its personnel from field duty. He stated that they will comply with the directive while taking into account the overall law and order situation.
Brig Gen Monzur addressed reporters at a press briefing held at Mess-A of Dhaka Cantonment, confirming the receipt of the withdrawal letter and assuring that appropriate actions will be taken in line with the prevailing law and order conditions.
His comments were prompted by inquiries regarding the government’s temporary decision to pull back half of the army members deployed nationwide to maintain law and order. As per the resolution made during a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Secretariat on Tuesday, soldiers will be withdrawn for rest and election-related training starting Wednesday. Subsequently, they will undergo training and rest before being redeployed gradually to replace the remaining personnel.
In his initial address, Brig Gen Monzur highlighted the Bangladesh Army’s assistance to the civil administration in upholding law and order for the past 15 months. He mentioned ongoing efforts to recover missing firearms and ammunition, as well as apprehending known criminals.
Updating on recent operations, he reported significant progress, including the arrest of key criminals and the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition at the Airport Railway Station based on intelligence inputs. Additionally, the army’s bomb disposal units successfully neutralized over a hundred homemade bombs in the last two weeks.
Brig Gen Monzur disclosed that since the July Uprising, the army has been providing medical aid to the injured, with 5,338 individuals treated at various Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs) and 27 still receiving treatment at Dhaka CMH.
He emphasized the army’s role in fostering communal harmony and ensuring the security of diplomats and embassies within the country, reaffirming the commitment of every Bangladesh Army member to safeguarding national sovereignty, in alignment with their motto: “In war, in peace, we are everywhere for our country.”
Assuring full cooperation with the Election Commission for a free, fair, and celebratory national election, Brig Gen Monzur stated that the army, under the guidance of the Chief of Army Staff, is prepared to extend comprehensive support. He noted the instructions from the Chief Adviser to make necessary preparations for a fair and peaceful election, with the Election Commission already coordinating with all law enforcement agencies. The army stands ready to assist as per their directives.