Staff Correspondent

Following the political unrest on 5 August, a total of 626 individuals, including political figures, sought refuge in different military bases countrywide.

As the situation has improved, 615 of them have voluntarily left the bases, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday.

According to the ISPR statement, among those who took shelter were 24 politicians, 5 judges, 19 civil administration officials, 28 police officers, 487 members of different other police ranks, 12 university officials, and 51 family members (spouses and children).

The military provided refuge to these individuals to prevent extrajudicial actions, protect lives, and uphold the rule of law amid a widespread deterioration in law and order across the country following the political shift, ISPR said in the statement.

“With the improvement of the situation, 615 individuals have voluntarily left the military bases. So far, 4 individuals have been handed over to law enforcement agencies following due legal process, based on allegations or cases filed against them,” the ISPR statement said.

Currently, 7 individuals, including 3 persons and their 4 family members, remain in military custody. The ISPR has provided all relevant information to the concerned ministry.

The ISPR urged the public to remain patient, avoid rumours, and cooperate with authorities, reiterating the Bangladesh Army’s dedication to standing by the people as per laws.