DHAKA, Jan 11: Some 50,000 soldiers of the Bangladesh army returned to their barracks on Saturday, two days after the president promulgated an ordinance indemnifying all actions taken by members of the army, paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles and police during the 86-day operation against violent crimes.

It was only the second immunity ordinance passed in Bangladesh. The first such law barred the trial of those involved in the 1975 coup that toppled Bangladesh’s first government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The indemnity was repealed when Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujib, came to power in 1996.

At least 40 people died during or after interrogation by the joint forces involved in the operation. Besides, nearly 11,000 people were arrested, of whom a few hundred have reportedly been maimed due to alleged torture in custody.

Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina Wajed said on Friday that the indemnity ordinance was “contrary to (the country’s) constitution and human rights”.