Aug 5 aftermath: ISPR releases list of 626 the army sheltered

The army provided temporary shelter to 626 individuals who sought protection amid the poor law and order situation following the July uprising, said an ISPR statement last night.

Among them were political figures, civil servants, police personnel, and their families who feared for their lives amid escalating violence, said the Inter Services Public Relations.

This humanitarian intervention was undertaken solely to protect lives, it said, adding that protecting lives were prioritised over verification of their identities.

After the fall of the previous government, the security situation rapidly deteriorated as certain conspiratorial groups incited attacks on government offices, police stations, and homes. Incidents of mob justice, arson, looting, and politically motivated assaults created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across the country, it said.

Against this backdrop, individuals from various backgrounds sought refuge in cantonments, including in Dhaka, said the ISPR release.

It said many of the 626 individuals who received temporary protection left within one or two days as conditions improved.

Those sheltered included 24 political leaders, five judges, 19 officials of the civil administration, 515 police officers and personnel, 51 women and children (family members), and 12 individuals from various public universities and other backgrounds, read the release.

A few of them were later handed over to law enforcement agencies through proper legal procedures based on ongoing cases or allegations, it added.

The ISPR clarified that this matter had been addressed in an official statement issued on August 18, 2024, and a list of 193 individuals, excluding over 400 police personnel and one NSI official, was sent to the home ministry the same day.

Despite the issue being resolved, some vested quarters have continued to circulate misleading and politically motivated narratives in an attempt to tarnish the image of Bangladesh Army and erode public trust, it said.

In light of renewed attempts to misrepresent these events, the army has released the full list of all 626 individuals who sought refuge, including police and intelligence personnel.

The army has urged all citizens to remain alert to such disinformation campaigns and not to fall prey to rumours designed to create division and mistrust, read the ISPR release.