Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman warned the politicians on Tuesday regarding their internal conflicts, emphasising the serious threat it poses to national sovereignty, and said that no one could say later that he “did not caution” anyone.
At a commemorative event for army officers who perished in the 2009 Pilkhana killings, he stated, “If you resort to mudslinging among yourselves, the independence and sovereignty of the country and the nation will be at stake. I am issuing a warning—you cannot say later that I did not caution you,” according to United News of Bangladesh.
On February 25 and 26, 2009, Bangladesh saw the murder of numerous army officers at the paramilitary force headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka, including Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, the then-director general of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). The total casualty count reached 74.
General Zaman highlighted the current turbulent situation in Bangladesh, noting that lawbreakers are exploiting these circumstances.
He identified internal conflicts as a primary cause of deteriorating security, stating that people are occupied with antagonising one another.
We are going through a chaotic situation, and criminals are taking advantage of it,” United News of Bangladesh quoted him saying.
“There are some reasons behind the deterioration in the law-and-order situation. One is: If we are busy fighting; it’s a suitable situation for criminals. They know it well if they do the crimes this time they will be able to easily escape. If we remain united then it will be possible to face these in a united way,” he said.
He noted that wrongdoers feel emboldened when stakeholders engage in mutual accusations, believing they can act with impunity.
The army chief requested the public not to broadly criticise law enforcement and security agencies for past controversial incidents, acknowledging their positive contributions.
General Zaman, an infantry officer by training, dismissed personal ambitions, seemingly addressing the country’s history of military interventions.
He assured that military forces would return to their bases once stability was achieved.
“I just want to bring the country and the nation to a stable point and then take a vacation,” stated Zaman, who shares a familial connection with Hasina.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s uprising resulted in Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year administration ending on August 5, 2024, with economist Muhammad Yunus assuming interim leadership, PTI reported.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s administration was overthrown, the Bangladesh had witnessed several uprising including the February 5 incident where the demonstrators attacked Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence.