Dhaka: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the army will be gradually withdrawn as the police have returned to a disciplined state following the assumption of office by the elected political government. ‘After the elected political government assumed office, it has been possible to restore discipline within the police force. According to the government’s policy decision, the army will not remain deployed indefinitely for maintaining law and order. A decision has been taken to gradually withdraw the army through coordination among the police, military and relevant agencies,’ he said.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Home Minister shared this information while speaking to reporters after a meeting on the future of stone and sand-mixed stone quarries in the Sylhet division. The meeting took place at the conference room of the Home Ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Referring to the stone quarries, the minister stated that the government has formed a high-level expert committee to oversee the limited leasing of stone quarries in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. This initiative aims to ensure environmental protection and compliance with existing laws. The committee, led by the Sylhet divisional commissioner, includes deputy commissioners of Sylhet and Sunamganj, representatives from the Department of Environment, Ministry of Water Resources, Geological Survey of Bangladesh, a professor from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, and a director from the Ministry of Mineral Resources. Superintendents of police from both districts are also part of the committee to ensure law enforcement coordination.
The committee’s responsibilities include conducting field inspections of quarry areas, assessing water barriers caused by siltation in border rivers, examining risks of border changes due to river erosion, and providing technical recommendations for sustainable stone extraction methods. It will also ensure the protection of tourist attractions such as Bichanakandi, Sada Pathor, and Bholaganj. Ecologically critical areas like Jaflong will remain outside the leasing process.
The government anticipates receiving the committee’s report by the end of this month and plans to make a final decision in the first week of June. Additionally, efforts will be made through the Law Ministry to expedite the resolution of pending court cases related to the issue.