Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that police will be deployed in camps abandoned by the army in three hill districts to maintain law and order.
He made the remarks after a meeting on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs with law enforcement agencies at his ministry conference room in Dhaka on Sunday.
“Temporary army camps, which are now vacant, will be police camps. We will deploy police in these three districts to maintain peace and law and order there,” Kamal said.
Mentioning that some unexpected incidents have taken place recently in the three hill districts, he said: “The prime minister has instructed us to pay attention to these hill districts.”
Kamal said his ministry has got a report on the latest situation of the three hill districts where some recommendations have been made for improving the law and order there.
“We have talked to all stakeholders concerned, including those who have been deployed for maintaining law and order in hill districts. We have also discussed the matter with upazila chairmen, public representatives, lawmakers and common people,” Kamal added.
Responding to a query, he said police with modern equipment will be deployed at the vacant camps, to maintain peace.
“Along with the law and order, other matters including administrative affairs and development programmes will be maintained properly. That’s why I specially invited President of Chittagong Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS) Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma alias Santu Larma, to join the meeting,” he said.
Kamal said Santu Larma raised various issues in the meeting and assured the ministry that he would extend all-out support to the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in the hill districts.
Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed and officials concerned were present in the meeting.
