Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the armed forces to employ
all their strength to resist any move against the country’s constitution
and democracy.
Reminding the forces of previous moves by vested quarters to jeopardise democracy, she asked them to remain fully loyal to the country’s charter and the democratically elected government.
“You have to ensure that no undemocratic force can capture state power using the armed forces ever again,” Hasina said, addressing the armed forces officers at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment.
Her call came hot on the heels of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s March 24 speech in Bogra where she said the army would not play the role of “a silent spectator as people get killed” and that it would “play its role in due time”.
Criticism of Khaleda’s remarks has been mounting, with many describing it as a provocation.
Hasina reminded the armed forces of the struggle and sacrifices the nation had to make to establish democracy, and said: “Members of the armed forces will have to be built up in the light of democratic norms so that they become respectful to democracy and fully loyal and respectful to the country’s constitution and democratic government.”
In this context, she directed the forces to prepare themselves to face any threat to protect the constitution and maintain continuation of democracy as in other independent countries.
The prime minister said the forces would be kept out of any untoward interference and that her government in no circumstances would allow them to be used for partisan interests.
“I firmly believe that it is absolutely crucial to keep the armed forces above political influence in order for them to give all their activities and management an institutional shape,” she said.
The premier also directed armed forces officers to remain vigilant against conspiracies and propaganda, saying a vested quarter was running various campaigns with an ill motive to create a chasm between the armed forces and the Awami League.
Journalists were not allowed to cover the programme, which was originally scheduled for March 21. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) later distributed copies of the prime minister’s written speech among the newsmen.
Highly praising the armed forces for earning a good reputation at home and abroad through their activities, Hasina said all members of the armed forces would have to mould themselves with the spirit of the Liberation War and the chain of command at all levels would have to be maintained without any hesitation.
She said her government would consider with the highest priority any proposal to tighten the chain of command and improve the professional and ethical standards of the forces.
Hasina also said any gap between seniors and their subordinates was not expected. “You [seniors] will have to watch out for the activities, movements and thoughts of the subordinates and also ensure that they [juniors] do not engage in anti-disciplinary activities.”
VIOLENCE, WAR CRIMES TRIAL
The prime minister said a radical, fanatic quarter had been running various forms of ill-motivated publicity and hatching conspiracies and describing the pro-liberation forces, including the Awami League, as anti-Islam.
Cashing in on religion, the quarter has become active to hinder the war crimes trial, push the country towards division and spoil the spirit of the Liberation War, she added.
“Over the past few weeks, you [officers] have noticed that some political parties have resorted to killing, vandalism, arson and attacks on police and religious minorities across the country. They have become desperate to turn Bangladesh into a militant state.
“At this critical juncture in the life of the nation, we will have to decide if we want a militant state or a democratic and progressive country.”
PILKHANA MUTINY
The PM said some misguided soldiers of the then BDR (now BGB) revolted on December 1 and 3 in 1991 at Naogaon battalion and Pilkhana respectively and attacked different establishments, offices and houses.
But the then BNP government did not take any action against the mutineers and even did not change the law for punishing the rebels, she said.
And although 25 army officers were killed in the name of the so-called sepoy-janata revolution on November 7, 1975, no investigation or justice had been done. Rather the families of those officers had been evicted from their cantonment residences, she added.
Hasina said many of the BDR soldiers who took part in the 1991 mutiny led the February 25-26 mutiny in 2009. “I think the gruesome mutiny in 2009 could have been avoided had proper action been taken against the mutineers of 1991.”
Many people are now making various comments about the mutiny but nobody stood by the government during the crisis, she said.
The premier went on to say that her government had taken tough action against the mutineers and that 18,520 mutineers had already been tried. Of them, 5,926 have been sentenced to different terms in prison ranging from four months to seven years.
The trial of 850 people on charges of murder and other criminal offences were underway and would be completed soon, she said.
She said the government had taken all possible measurers so that no such tragic mutiny occurred in the border force again.
Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, acting chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Abu Esrar and Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq welcomed the prime minister at the programme
Reminding the forces of previous moves by vested quarters to jeopardise democracy, she asked them to remain fully loyal to the country’s charter and the democratically elected government.
“You have to ensure that no undemocratic force can capture state power using the armed forces ever again,” Hasina said, addressing the armed forces officers at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment.
Her call came hot on the heels of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s March 24 speech in Bogra where she said the army would not play the role of “a silent spectator as people get killed” and that it would “play its role in due time”.
Criticism of Khaleda’s remarks has been mounting, with many describing it as a provocation.
Hasina reminded the armed forces of the struggle and sacrifices the nation had to make to establish democracy, and said: “Members of the armed forces will have to be built up in the light of democratic norms so that they become respectful to democracy and fully loyal and respectful to the country’s constitution and democratic government.”
In this context, she directed the forces to prepare themselves to face any threat to protect the constitution and maintain continuation of democracy as in other independent countries.
The prime minister said the forces would be kept out of any untoward interference and that her government in no circumstances would allow them to be used for partisan interests.
“I firmly believe that it is absolutely crucial to keep the armed forces above political influence in order for them to give all their activities and management an institutional shape,” she said.
The premier also directed armed forces officers to remain vigilant against conspiracies and propaganda, saying a vested quarter was running various campaigns with an ill motive to create a chasm between the armed forces and the Awami League.
Journalists were not allowed to cover the programme, which was originally scheduled for March 21. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) later distributed copies of the prime minister’s written speech among the newsmen.
Highly praising the armed forces for earning a good reputation at home and abroad through their activities, Hasina said all members of the armed forces would have to mould themselves with the spirit of the Liberation War and the chain of command at all levels would have to be maintained without any hesitation.
She said her government would consider with the highest priority any proposal to tighten the chain of command and improve the professional and ethical standards of the forces.
Hasina also said any gap between seniors and their subordinates was not expected. “You [seniors] will have to watch out for the activities, movements and thoughts of the subordinates and also ensure that they [juniors] do not engage in anti-disciplinary activities.”
VIOLENCE, WAR CRIMES TRIAL
The prime minister said a radical, fanatic quarter had been running various forms of ill-motivated publicity and hatching conspiracies and describing the pro-liberation forces, including the Awami League, as anti-Islam.
Cashing in on religion, the quarter has become active to hinder the war crimes trial, push the country towards division and spoil the spirit of the Liberation War, she added.
“Over the past few weeks, you [officers] have noticed that some political parties have resorted to killing, vandalism, arson and attacks on police and religious minorities across the country. They have become desperate to turn Bangladesh into a militant state.
“At this critical juncture in the life of the nation, we will have to decide if we want a militant state or a democratic and progressive country.”
PILKHANA MUTINY
The PM said some misguided soldiers of the then BDR (now BGB) revolted on December 1 and 3 in 1991 at Naogaon battalion and Pilkhana respectively and attacked different establishments, offices and houses.
But the then BNP government did not take any action against the mutineers and even did not change the law for punishing the rebels, she said.
And although 25 army officers were killed in the name of the so-called sepoy-janata revolution on November 7, 1975, no investigation or justice had been done. Rather the families of those officers had been evicted from their cantonment residences, she added.
Hasina said many of the BDR soldiers who took part in the 1991 mutiny led the February 25-26 mutiny in 2009. “I think the gruesome mutiny in 2009 could have been avoided had proper action been taken against the mutineers of 1991.”
Many people are now making various comments about the mutiny but nobody stood by the government during the crisis, she said.
The premier went on to say that her government had taken tough action against the mutineers and that 18,520 mutineers had already been tried. Of them, 5,926 have been sentenced to different terms in prison ranging from four months to seven years.
The trial of 850 people on charges of murder and other criminal offences were underway and would be completed soon, she said.
She said the government had taken all possible measurers so that no such tragic mutiny occurred in the border force again.
Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, acting chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Abu Esrar and Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq welcomed the prime minister at the programme
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