Bangladesh court tells troops to exit from Chittagong Hill Tracts

Dhaka, Aug.20 (ANI): A court in Bangladesh ruled on Thursday that troops should withdraw from the insurgency-hit Chittacong Hill Tract.

The order was passed despite pleas from some residents about militant attacks.

The army has begun pulling out the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where the government signed a peace treaty with the main militant group in 1997, but halted last week due to a court petition from a Bengali settler.

Government figures show 2,500 people died during two decades of fighting before the peace deal, and deadly violence has continued between the settlers who moved to the area recently and indigenous tribal groups who seek autonomy.

The armed forces said 2,100 troops would be withdrawn and 35 security camps dismantled by September. (ANI)