FROM PAGE 2

The nearly two-and-a-half-hour meeting discussed the complete withdrawal of armed forces personnel from the field level, overall law and order, extortion incidents across the country, and changes to police uniforms, among other issues.

Following the escalation of unrest during the 2024 quota reform protests by students, the then Awami League government imposed a curfew on July 19 and deployed the armed forces personnel.

After the government was ousted on August 5 that year amid mass uprising, the police force became destabilised, prompting the armed forces to remain deployed on the field. On September 17, the interim government granted them magistracy powers.

According to sources, around 17,000 armed forces personnel are still deployed across the country. The defence ministry earlier requested the home ministry on several occasions to complete the withdrawal, citing fatigue among personnel due to prolonged deployment and the need for rest.

In this context, the core committee meeting decided on the final withdrawal of the armed forces from field duties, sources present at the meeting said. The home ministry will now formally communicate the decision with the defence ministry through an official letter.