|
Armed forces have no intention to
grab power: Army Chief
Nation needs honest, efficient
leadership to govern, says Gen Moeen
 |
Army chief Lt. General Moeen U Ahmed
Thursday categorically said the
military has no intention to capture
power or run government, but they
are assisting the caretaker
government to put the country back
onto the right track.
“The army has no intention to take
over. We are not even running
government. But we like to see this
government successful as we want to
put the country on right track
through concerted efforts of all,”
he told his civil-society audience
in the Bandarban hill district. |
General Ahmed reflected some harsh
truths about the trend of politics,
mindset of politicians and
governance while exchanging views
with representatives of the civil
administration, political party
leaders, journalists and
representatives of government and
non-government agencies at Bandarban
Cantonment.
The army chief said the nation needs
efficient and honest politicians to
move forward as “our politicians do
not understand anything beyond their
self-interest.”
He said a new situation has been
ushered in now in the country where
politicians would not be able to do
politics squandering money. Those
who could not do politics so long
for want of money will now get the
opportunity.
Explaining the background of the
promulgation of a state of emergency
in the country by the President,
General Moeen said the past
caretaker government had tired to
forge consensus between the two
parties for holding a credible
election. But it failed, as neither
party was ready to budge an inch,
which resulted in deterioration of
the situation.
In this context, he recalled the
grisly scene on Dhaka streets on Oct
28, last year, when some people
trampled to death another man-a
scene “never seen anywhere in the
world. This brutal scene was not
only witnessed by people at home but
also abroad--and “everyone has hated
us”.
He noted that unilateral elections
(Jan 22) would not have been
accepted at home and abroad and all,
including army, BDR, police-ansars,
would have been blamed for that
debacle.
Under the circumstances, the
President decided to impose state of
emergency. He also decided to step
down from the office of Chief
Advisor and appointed a new Chief
Advisor. He said new Advisors were
appointed on the criteria of
honesty, competence and sincerity.
“Now it needs people’s support. This
opportunity will not come time and
again,” the army chief said, adding
that it “should not happen so”.
General Moeen made fervent call for
all to come forward to make a fresh
start in national life with a clean
slate. “Let’s cooperate with this
government so we can steer the
nation forward,” he said.
In an apparent emotion-choked voice,
the army chief said the country was
destroyed in last 35 years. Invoking
a simile, he likened the predicament
of the country to a derailed train.
“We need a heavy crane to salvage
the train onto the track--and
strength of the people is the crane.
Once you can put the train on the
track, it will move smoothly,” he
said in metaphorical terms about the
imperative of a rescue operation in
such situation.
Citing corruption an example of
degeneration of the polity, the
General deplored that, because of
disputes over who will get the ‘10
percent’ kickbacks, a USD
200-million machine-readable
passport project could not be
implemented.
He said government provides subsidy
for fertilizer to help the poor
farmers, but, unfortunately, those
fertilizers were smuggled out of the
country by the vested quarters.
Referring to recent incidents of
arson in garment factories that earn
70 percent of country’s foreign
exchange earnings, General Moeen
deplored that this export industry
was burnt and destroyed in a planned
way. “There is politics behind it,”
he said, adding, “ we even do not
try to understand our own
wellbeing.”
Reminding that Bangladesh has got
enough potential, he again called up
a figure of speech: “ We have struck
axe on our own feet. We have eaten
up the vitals of the country over
the years, leaving the country like
a skeleton.”
About national or voter’s ID card,
General Moeen said some
intellectuals opined that it would
require Tk 1000 crore and five years
time. But, he said they made a
calculation that suggests that ID
card for voters is possible within
10-12 months at an estimated cost of
Tk 300 crore.
Lashing out at massive corruption,
the General wondered how the
expensive BMW, Mercedes Benz, Ford
cars could ply the streets in Dhaka
when people in America even have to
think twice before buying such
luxury cars. “Wherefrom comes this
money? This is our farmers’ money,”
he said.
Referring to non-payment of
electricity bills, he said the rich
people and companies whose monthly
income is Tk 5 lakh or Tk 10 lakh do
not pay the bill. But if any action
is taken against the defaulters,
they go to court for writs. “ If we
could not change this situation, our
next generation would call us name,”
he told the meet in his
comprehensive speech.
General Moeen said the present
government separated the judiciary
from the executive in 7 days time
and is trying to reform the election
commission. He said the reforms
would be brought in the election
commission so that corrupt
politicians cannot do politics.
Criticizing the mindset of the
politicians, the General said the
time has come to stop the politics
done capitalizing on money. The
nation needs a competent political
leadership so Bangladesh could
achieve development and progress
like Malaysia and Singapore.
He told the meet that ninety-percent
people support the present caretaker
government and the government should
now move the country in right
direction with the strength of this
support.
--UNB
|
