626 civilians sheltered in cantonments: ISPR
Staff Reporter :
The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) has released a detailed account confirming that 626 individuals sought temporary refuge in military cantonments during the political unrest following the collapse of the former government in August 2024.
According to a statement issued on Friday, the Bangladesh Army provided humanitarian shelter to civilians amid widespread lawlessness and violent clashes that erupted after a student-led mass uprising in July and August last year.
The period was marked by attacks on public institutions, arson targeting political leaders’ residences, looting, and mob violence, which left many citizens in fear for their lives.
In the face of this security vacuum, individuals from various sectors – including political leaders, civil servants, law enforcement officers, and members of the judiciary – turned to cantonments across the country for protection.
The ISPR emphasized that during the peak of the emergency, the army prioritized saving lives over identity verification.
The breakdown of those sheltered includes 24 political figures, 5 judges, 19 civil administration officials, 515 police officers and constables, 12 university and miscellaneous officials, and 51 dependents, including spouses and children.
The ISPR reiterated that the initiative was strictly humanitarian, aimed at shielding vulnerable individuals from extrajudicial violence and mob reprisals. Most of those who sought protection left the cantonments within a few days as the situation gradually stabilized.
However, five individuals with active legal cases were handed over to law enforcement authorities in accordance with due process.
On August 18, 2024, the ISPR had earlier disclosed partial details of the shelter operation, submitting a list of 193 individuals (excluding 432 police personnel and one National Security Intelligence officer) to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a move intended to officially close the matter.
In the latest statement, the ISPR denounced what it called “deliberate misinformation” circulated by vested interests aiming to malign the army’s reputation and sow discord between the military and the public. It urged citizens to remain alert against such propaganda.
“The Bangladesh Army remains committed to its professional duties, steadfast in defending national sovereignty and upholding public security,” the statement concluded.
The complete list of all 626 individuals, including police personnel and the NSI official, was attached to the ISPR’s latest communication.