All soldiers, including officers, of the Bangladesh Army’s 10th Infantry Division have been forbidden to step outside the Ramu cantonment, the headquarters of this unit, documents accessed by Northeast News show.
An April 28 “restricted” order issued by a Lieutenant Colonel stationed at Ramu cantonment says unequivocally that while the Commanding Officers (COs) and the Deputy Cos (2ICs) have been specifically instructed to not step outside the well-guarded premises without the permission of superior officers at Ramu or the Cox’s Bazar Area Commander.
This order comes at a time when the 10th Division is primed to play a key role in the operations to support the Arakan Army’s military offensive against the Myanmar military junta forces by way providing logistics and supplies support, some of which has already begun clandestinely.
The order says: “From now onward, no Commanding Officer or Deputy Commanding Officer is allowed to step outside the bounds of the Ramu Station without the prior permission of the GOC (General Officer Commanding) and/or the Cox’s Bazar-based Area Commander”.
This will be applicable in the case of all Cos – from the brigade down to the platoon level. The 10th Division has three brigade units under its command.
Similar orders are said to have been issued by the Army authorities for the 17th and 24th Divisions which are also slated to take part in the operations to assist the Arakan Army by way of logistics and supplies support.
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While no reason for this movement restriction was specified in the April 28 order, sources said that this could be to prevent any leakage of information or military plans among the general public.
The sources said it “was implied” that the COs and Deputy COs will issue verbal movement restriction orders on non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and other soldiers.
The sources, however, said that the movement restriction on officers has been put in place on account of the presence of “sensitive equipment” brought over from a Southeast country close to Myanmar.
