Subir Bhaumik
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman’s stern warning to interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on a host of national issues may be a prelude to a new phase in the country’s troubled political landscape.
Addressing ‘all available military officers ‘ at the Army headquarters on Wednesday, General Waqar-u-Zaman shed his usual cautious stance abd delivered an unambiguous message to Nobel laureate Yunus — hold early elections, stop interfering with military matters, and keep the military posted on key issues like the proposed Rakhine Corridor.
Describing Yunus’ proposed reforms agenda, which he seems to have used as an excuse to delay parliament polls, as a ‘ botched up exercise’ , General Waker declared that the national elections will have to be held by December this year.
After the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year, Waker took the initiative to install the interim government but specifically mentioned that their primary job was to hold “a free, fair, and inclusive election”.
With the recent ban on the ruling Awami League, the prospect of am inclusive election has dimmed and that has upset Gen Waker-uz-Zaman.
The army chiet has repeatedly asserted that his job is to organise a free and fair election and then take the army back to the barracks after a transfer of power to the elected government.
He was not gone for a direct military takeover but focused on three tasks: restoring democracy, maintaining stability, and upholding the Bangladesh Army’s professional standards that made it one of the leading contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
But this push has got him into a tussle with Yunus, who lambasts Hasina for rigging elections, but himself was to rule without wants to rule unelected.
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