DHAKA, April 17, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh government's emergency rescue, relief and medical assistance to earthquake-hit Myanmar will undoubtedly play a special role in building trust between the two countries and developing bilateral relations, said Col Md Shafiqul Islam, colonel staff of the Directorate of Military Operations at the Army Headquarters,  at a press briefing.

The media briefing was held at the Officers' Mess of Dhaka Cantonment this afternoon on the activities of the army to maintain law and order in the country.

On March 28 this year, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand, resulting in extensive loss of life and property as the earthquake created a humanitarian disaster in Myanmar, Md. Shafiqul Islam said.

During the crisis period to next door neighbor, Bangladesh government took the initiative to provide emergency rescue, relief and medical assistance, he said adding Bangladesh Army played a leading role under the supervision of the Armed Forces Division to this end.
 
Md. Shafiqul Islam said a rescue team of 21 members of the Engineer Corps and a medical team of 10 members were sent under the leadership of Colonel Shamim of Bangladesh Army.
 
Besides the Army, 3 members of the Navy, 3 members of the Air Force, 10 members of the Fire Service and Civil Defense and a civilian medical team of 8 members were sent.
 
Army aircraft, Air Force aircraft and naval ships were used in sending this rescue, relief and medical assistance team. This humanitarian assistance team sent by the Bangladesh government completed its activities very successfully and returned to the country on April 15.

This great initiative of the Bangladesh government has been widely appreciated by the people of that country, including the Myanmar government, which has been widely publicized in various electronic and print media of Myanmar.
 
This initiative by the Bangladesh government will undoubtedly play a special role in building trust and developing bilateral relations between the two countries.
 
Shafiqul Islam said on March 14, the UN Secretary-General visited the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar and had Iftar with the Rohingyas, where the Chief of Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, high-ranking government officials and diplomatic representatives of various countries were present.
 
During the visit of the UN Secretary-General, the Bangladesh Army provided complete security and other related activities, he said.
 
Iftar items were distributed to nearly one lakh Rohingyas under the overall supervision of the army, which was widely appreciated and appreciated by all quarters.
 
Shafiqul Islam said during the visit, the Army Chief paid a courtesy call on the UN Secretary-General at a Dhaka hotel.
 
During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General highly appreciated the overall activities of the army, especially the contribution and success of the Bangladesh Army in the UN mission.
 
Shafiqul Islam said on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr, Bangladesh Army took special activities for 2 weeks before and after the Eid to ensure maximum safety of Eid holidaymekrs and orderly movement of vehicles.
 
He said, as part of this, to ensure smooth movement of vehicles on national highways, patrolling was carried out round the clock at bus stands, railway stations, launch terminals and highways in all districts of the country including Dhaka, setting up check posts at sensitive places and conducting awareness activities among the people, which plays an effective role in ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.

As a result, road accidents and other criminal activities have reduced to a great extent compared to last year, which plays a helpful role in helping people reach their destinations smoothly and celebrate Eid peacefully and joyfully with their families.
 
Shafiqul Islam said, in the past, to ensure the safety of industrial areas, Bangladesh Army has controlled 137 risky situations and cleared various main roads from blockades 31 times. It is worth mentioning here that during the national security measures in the industrial area, on April 9, the army personnel deployed to quell unrest at Robin Tex Garments in Narayanganj were attacked by some garment workers when they threw bricks and stones, in which 24 army personnel were injured.
 
Of the injured, 20 were admitted to the CMH and had to undergo treatment for various periods.
 
To deal with pre-Eid unrest in the garment industry, the army made special arrangements for the payment of salaries and allowances to garment workers by making coordination among owners, workers, the ministry, industrial area police and other concerned which played a very effective role in quelling the traditional pre-Eid unrest among the workers.
 
Shafiqul Islam said apart from the industrial area, the army has controlled 232 different types of disorderly situations in the past two months, of which 37 were related to educational institutions, 24 were related to government organizations or offices, 76 were political conflicts and 15 were other types of incidents.
 
He said that in the last two months, the Bangladesh Army, in a coordinated effort with all other law enforcement agencies, has arrested a total of 2,457 people involved in various types of crimes from different places, and so far a total of 7,822 people have been arrested.
 
Among them are juvenile gangs, listed criminals, drug dealers, kidnappers, smugglers, smugglers and brokers, extortionists, robbers, snatchers, etc.

He said that in the last two months, the army has recovered 320 illegal weapons and 564 rounds of ammunition, and so far a total of 9,370 illegal weapons and 285,052 rounds of ammunition.
 
The army officer said that in addition to maintaining law and order, the army has so far provided treatment to 4,340 people in various CMHs of the country for the proper treatment of those injured during the anti-discrimination student movement, of which 43 are still undergoing treatment.
 
Shafiqul Islam said that in honor of the injured in the anti-discrimination student movement, the Bangladesh Army organized an Iftar and Doa Mahfil at the Army Parade Ground on March 23 and a reception in honor of the injured and martyred families at the Army Multipurpose Complex on March 25, where the Army Chief was present to inquire about everyone's well-being and assured all kinds of cooperation including medical treatment.
 
He said the Army Chief also participated in the Iftar program organized in honor of the families of the students injured in the anti-discrimination student movement. The injured students and their families present were moved by this sincerity of the Army and expressed their gratitude to the Army.
 
He said the Bangladesh Army took maximum security measures across the country, including Dhaka, to celebrate Pahela Boishakh smoothly. As a result, except for one or two isolated incidents, people from all walks of life in the country were able to celebrate Pahela Boishakh 1432 in a joyful atmosphere.
 
Shafiqul Islam said that on April 3, when a 300-meter dam of the Kholapetua River broke in Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira district, about 9 nearby villages were flooded. In this incident, members of the Bangladesh Army, in collaboration with the Water Development Board and the local people, worked to repair the dam as soon as possible.
 
The Bangladesh Army went door-to-door in remote areas to deliver water to people trapped in water. This greatly reduced the suffering of the local people and the locals expressed gratitude for the work of the army.
 
He said that in addition, in the past two months, the Bangladesh Army, Fire Service and all other law enforcement agencies have played an effective role in controlling the fire and reducing the damage in the fastest possible time in various fire incidents in Chittagong, Savar, Uttar Badda, Mirpur, Banani, Bhasantek, Gazipur, Patuakhali and Bagerhat.

He said that in addition to all these tasks, the army is engaged in maintaining communal harmony in the country and ensuring the overall security of foreign diplomats and embassies.

He said that it is also fulfilling its responsibilities of maintaining peace and order in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and providing security to the FDMN camp area in Cox's Bazar district.

Shafiqul Islam said that in the prevailing situation of the country, the Bangladesh Army is working relentlessly to protect the country's sovereignty, provide security to the lives and property of the country's people and important assets and installations of the state, and keep the overall situation stable.

He said that following the directions of the army chief, army personnel in 62 districts including the Char areas of the country are actively performing their duties round the clock to maintain law and order through coordinated efforts with the relevant ministries of the interim government, law and order forces, local administration, various organizations, the media and the general public.

He further said that the army is committed to continuing the ongoing work by further enhancing this coordination and mutual cooperation.