Dhaka, May 07 (V7N) — Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the army cannot remain deployed indefinitely to maintain law and order, adding that the government is planning a phased withdrawal of military personnel from the field.

He made the remarks on Thursday (May 7) after a meeting at the ministry regarding stone quarries in the Sylhet Division.

The minister said that after the elected political government assumed office, public confidence in the administration has gradually been restored and the police force has returned to an organized state. In this context, initiatives are underway to withdraw the army step by step.

According to him, the police, army and other relevant agencies will jointly determine the process and timeline for the withdrawal.

Salahuddin Ahmed also said that ongoing drives against criminals are continuing across the country. He stated that notorious criminals, drug dealers, illegal arms holders and gambling operators are being arrested regularly through coordinated operations.

“No one is above the law,” the minister said, adding that operations are being conducted based on verified lists. He claimed that the country’s law and order situation has visibly improved as a result of both joint and independent operations by law enforcement agencies.

The meeting also discussed the issue of leasing stone quarries in limited areas while excluding ecologically sensitive zones and ensuring compliance with environmental laws.

The Home Minister announced the formation of a committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet to prepare a field-level survey report on stone extraction activities.

The committee will include the Deputy Commissioners of Sunamganj and Sylhet, representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, as well as a professor from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Additional experts may also be included if necessary.

The minister said the committee’s report is expected by the end of this month, after which another meeting will be held next month to make policy decisions regarding stone extraction, environmental protection and law and order management.

END/SMA/AJ