Army pullout from tomorrow

The government will start pulling out the army tomorrow afternoon although the current anti-crime 'Operation Clean Heart' by the joint forces will go ahead, highly placed sources said.

A special cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the chair yesterday made the decision. It also approved the Joint Drive Indemnity Ordinance 2003, making army action during the anti-crime crackdown immune to legal challenge.

Initially, the troops will be stationed in the divisional headquarters and cantonments. Some camps will be set up in places like Barisal where there is no cantonment.

"Troops will remain ready to swing into operation at the call of the civil administration. The current drive will carry on as long as deemed fit," said a senior army official on condition of anonymity. An influential cabinet minister confirmed it.

Around 24,023 army men and 339 Navy personnel along with paramilitary BDR, police and Ansar joined in the 'Operation Clean Heart' drive from early hours of October 17 last year, aiming to quell violent crimes across the country.

Some 44 people so far died during the joint drive while 11,245 were arrested, including 2,482 listed criminals. During the same period, 2,028 arms and 29,754 rounds of ammunitions were recovered.

Sources at the civil and military administrations said although there are cantonments in Dhaka and Chittagong there may be some army camps outside the cantonments in these two major cities. Because the authorities still apprehend further breakout of violent crimes in absence of the army.

However, army intelligence will keep vigil on the situation. Moreover, if need be the army may assist the Rapid Action Team (RAT) composed of highly trained policemen which is likely to swing into action from January 17.

Sources said one of the reasons of troops pullout is that most soldiers will get busy with the winter exercise. Troops are to engage in the winter exercise which is crucial since their promotion and posting greatly depend on their performance in the exercise.

Sources said the troops withdrawal goes along schedule and that it has nothing to do with the Union Parishad elections to get underway on January 25.

Government policymakers believe the troops deployment has greatly contributed to a fall in crime incidents. But the deaths of more than 44 people following arrest and detention during the drive has drawn scathing criticism for the government.