Bangladesh Army has clarified its position regarding the people who took shelter inside the cantonments to save their lives after the July-August uprising.

In a statement on Thursday, ISPR said that following the fall of the previous government during the July-August 2024 student uprising, the law and order situation in Bangladesh deteriorated significantly due to activities by unruly groups.

The country witnessed widespread chaos, including attacks on government offices, police stations, political leaders, activists, and supporters; arson attacks on homes; mob justice; theft; and robberies.

This fragile security environment led to widespread insecurity among citizens across the nation.

In this tense situation, people from various social strata, including some political figures, sought refuge within the cantonments across Bangladesh, notably in Dhaka, to protect their lives.

Given the sudden unrest, prioritising the safety of these asylum seekers over verifying their identities was deemed essential.

Consequently, a total of 626 individuals—including 24 political figures, 5 judges, 19 civil administration officials, 515 police personnel and members, officials from various public universities, 12 miscellaneous persons, and 51 family members (spouses and children)—were provided shelter in different cantonments.

The primary objective was to save lives from potential extrajudicial killings, driven solely by humanitarian considerations.

"Most of these asylum seekers left the cantonments within one to two days; five individuals were handed over to law enforcement agencies based on existing charges or cases, following due legal procedures," added the ISPR.

Earlier on 18 August 2024,  ISPR issued an official press release  regarding the people staying in the cantonment and seeking asylum and on the same day a list of 193 individuals (excluding 432 general police personnel and 1 NSI personnel) was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs - which was a settled matter.

The provision of temporary shelter was a humanitarian gesture aimed at safeguarding their safety and lives.

The ISPR emphasised that, given the security threats at the time, the lives of those seeking refuge could have been at risk.

However, it also condemned the deliberate spread of misleading information intended to tarnish the image of the Bangladesh Army and to create distance between the military and the people.

The Bangladesh Army also urged the people to remain vigilant against such misinformation.

It reaffirmed its commitment to serve the nation with professionalism, dedication, and trust, while safeguarding the sovereignty of Bangladesh, according to the ISPR.