Army to be withdrawn in phases as police restore discipline: Minister

FE Team | Published: May 07, 2026 22:56:26

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the police force has returned to a disciplined state following the assumption of office by an elected political government, adding that the army will be withdrawn gradually from law and order duties, reports agencies.
The Home minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting on the current situation and future measures regarding stone and sand-mixed stone quarries in Sylhet division at the Home Ministry at the Secretariat in the capital on Thursday.
"The elected government has been able to restore discipline within the police force. As per policy decisions, the army will not remain deployed indefinitely for maintaining law and order. A gradual withdrawal will be carried out through coordination among the police, military and relevant agencies," he said.
Turning to the issue of stone quarries, the minister said the government has formed a high-level expert committee to facilitate limited leasing in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, while ensuring environmental protection and strict compliance with existing laws and regulations.
The committee will be headed by the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner and includes the deputy commissioners of Sylhet and Sunamganj, representatives from the Department of Environment, Ministry of Water Resources, Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB), a professor from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, and a director from the Ministry of Mineral Resources. The superintendents of police of both districts have also been included to ensure coordination in law enforcement.
Describing its mandate, the minister said the committee will conduct field inspections, assess water flow obstructions caused by siltation in border rivers, examine risks of river erosion and potential border changes, and recommend environmentally sustainable methods and depths for stone extraction.
He added that the panel will also ensure the protection of key tourist sites such as Bichanakandi, Sada Pathor and Bholaganj, while ecologically critical areas like Jaflong will remain outside the leasing process.
The government expects to receive the committee's report by the end of this month and take a final decision in the first week of June, he said, adding that steps will also be taken through the Law Ministry to expedite the disposal of pending related cases in higher courts.