The armed forces personnel deployed on Monday across the country may launch illegal arms recovery operations today. Sources said the commanding officers of the armed forces held meetings with the officers of different law enforcement agencies to determine modus operandi of the operation. | "Just follow the 12-point checklist in your RAB handout." |
The troops will act on demand from the civil administration to protect public life and properties, keep economic activities running, recover illegal firearms and curb criminal activities.
According to sources, the troops have set up 13 makeshift battalion headquarters at Science Laboratory, Airport, Uttara, Bashundhara Residential area, Postagola, Khilgaon, Wari, Mirpur Indoor Stadium, Mohammadpur Physical Centre, Cantonment police station area and Ramna, Azimpur and Paltan community centres. Each battalion will cover two to three police station areas in the capital, sources said.
An army officer at Mirpur Indoor Stadium told this correspondent yesterday that they are yet to launch operation. "A lieutenant colonel is in command of our unit and a brigadier general is supervising some such units," he said.
The members of the naval forces took positions at 13 places in the coastal belts of Chittagong, Bhola, Noakhali and Bagerhat. Air forces personnel were deployed at Zia International Airport, Shah Amanat International Airport at Sylhet and Jessore Airport.
| If I was a suspious person, I'd say that would also be a great deployment plan if you were thinking about a coup. Hey, a guy can dream, can't he? |
News agency UNB quoted Director of Inter Services Public Relations Lt Col Anisur Rahman Chowdhury as saying over 16,000 army, 1,000 navy and 500 air force personnel have been deployed across the country.
According to the home ministry, police and Rapid Action Battalion yesterday recovered 21 illegal firearms and 33 bullets and arrested 11 during their countrywide operations in different parts of the country.
| Wonder if they've got enough shutter guns to go around? |