BDR Mutiny: Condolence, Questions and Concerns
Shamim Chowdhury
The Bangladesh Rifles HQ rebellion that shook the nation was devastating and will have long chilling effect on the entire nation, especially, on countries two top tier national security operatives
I pay my deep mark of homage for those civil and security personnel who died in this tragic incident and pray for quick recovery of those who suffered injury in this deadly brawl between two historically connected organizations.
I condemn all killings that took place on both side and sincerely hope Prime Minister Amnesty will not give comfort and immunity for the killers. To take flaming situation into its grip and control and let the tragic deadly event not rolling further, newly formed political government has taken the precise bold decision to declare general amnesty which covers those who took part with the rebellion probably for reasons beyond control or humanly frustration out of long deprivation but not in act of murder.
My hats off to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her cabinet, senior leaders of Bangladesh Awami League and its alliance. Prime Ministers sincere effort and magnificent statesmanship saved the nation from a deep crisis.
However the crisis is not over yet. Especially when human tragedy of this magnitude takes place there is always a chilling after effect. I appeal to government to keep their eyes and ears open and take measures to prevent any backlash that might follow the tragedy. It's been reported in the press that army is increasingly pressuring
As one human tragedy is unfolding, another is in making. Right after the rebellion, army officer's family members were in desperate move to get information on displaced officer's fate. Now, similarly family members of thousands of BDR soldiers frantically are trying to locate their loved ones. The nervousness has been in the rise in last hour (BD time 11:30 AM, Feb 27th) after army troops and tanks deployed inside the BDR HQ.
Nation pray (as we find no one to trust among security personnel) this army deployment will not create another human heartbreaking tragedy. Reportedly army Chief Gen. Moeen went inside BDR HQ around noon time.
Now as the stress is little on the loose side we need to investigate why things went into rampage, who is responsible, why now and what will happen next. At some point the nation must come to a position and demand to have a comprehensive judicial inquiry not just on this particular mutiny but all defiance and rebellion that took place since the emancipation.
To stop this blood shed for once and all a white paper should be published letting the people know how many rebellion happened from 1972 to till this last one. How many officers and soldiers been killed, how many been executed after summary trial, number of injured, number been discharged. Most importantly who are those who worked behind the back drops of all these mutiny and benefited from?
Nation's nerve is worn-out and no longer accepts information black out in the name of national security. What security, when arms bought with our money is used to kill our elected presidents? Army which suppose to stay in cantonment will role out their tanks and armored vehicle into capital in short intermission to occupy the government pulpit.
People of
Regrettably, power hungry
Today when Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu in power as Prime Minister and their officers died in their own people's hand, tanks are rolling to empower investigation and prevent further escalation of violence, but when Bangabandhu died it was their tanks rolled to protect the killers. Probably this is the distinction between darkness and enlightens, truth and travesty
Bangladesh Army is under siege to some dangerously corrupt ambitious army officers.
I do not want to sound anti military being son of a military personnel, but can any one tell me how many good deeds Bangladesh military has exhibited comparing to their bed deeds since independence? Sometime one might wonder whether they are foe or friend to the people of
Especially in last two years, their top commander's criminal insensate mind did not have any compunction on building lavish golf courses and indulge into corruption in highest order when the people of the country had to go through severe food crisis. Their extravagant life style, palaces in DOHS, luxury cars and mind boggling corruption made people think negative about
Gen. Moeen U Ahmed is personally responsible for what happened in
There should be a thorough judicial investigation on what happened not just in last couple of days but to unearth stories behind the stories. Unearth names and organization (there must be some one behind this) who is responsible for this heinous killing in BDR HQ. We can not accept that all these heinous killing happened just because of some disgruntles BDR personnel, NO NO, that can not be true. YES, mutiny happened and overwhelming ordinary BDR soldiers joined the mutiny out of sheer frustration over officer's brutality, injustice, corruption and disgraceful act. But murder and destruction in this scale can not be done by some leaderless disorganized BDR personnel. Some one must be behind this monumental crime, framed and financed the entire episode, who they are? What was their mission? Are they insider or outsider? Government must find out no matter what it takes for the sake of the nation and their stability.
Nation feel somewhat relieved, the mutiny is over and hope there will be no further escalation on any side. All threats will be removed and normalcy will return. Because of electronic media revolution, people of
To prevent such painful death and destruction in future, government must enact an especial parliamentary committee which will review all military and civil security agencies service manual to remove any rules contrary to human dignity and rule of law.
Mindset of
DGFI, NSI, Military Field Intelligence, Detective Brunch (DB Police), Special Brunch and all other civil intelligence agencies need to be restructuring from bottom up. BDR mutiny once again provides solid evidence on how disgracefully they failed this time likewise other dangerous time the nation went through since independence. These intelligence units, especially DGFI Political Wings scandalously put all of its energy, time and money against or in favor of political entity to satisfy military rulers since its creation on late seventies. Without any doubt, DGFI political wing is responsible for all undemocratic move and disfranchising institution of democracy in
Parliament must enact and pass law disbanding political wing of military intelligence outfit DGFI and make sure this entity can not be misused against civil authority by ambitious generals in future.
All defense garrisons should be removed from the center of the city as soon as possible. Therefore, Dhaka Cantonment and BDR head quarter must be removed and resettled in reverse direction at least 50 miles away from the capital city.
May almighty save our nation from further escalation of tension and from dangerous guild of troublemaker who plays with the life of civilian and military personal indifferently.
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