Army has no political role: chief adviser
He says govt ponders formation of nat’l security council
Courtesy United News of
The chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, has dismissed the notion that the country is placed under a dual rule and said he does not perceive any political role of the armed forces.
‘I don’t feel existence of dual rule… the army is assisting the civil government and playing an important role in curbing corruption, improving law and order, distributing flood relief. I don’t see the reflection of their political role through these activities,’ he said in an interview with BBC (Bangla Service) broadcast on Friday.
Replying to a question, the chief adviser said the reasons that had called for promulgation of the state of emergency have not all disappeared, but assured that the emergency would be lifted at an appropriate time.
On the formation of National Security Council, he said the government is pondering the matter as such institution exists in neighbouring countries, but no final decision has yet been arrived at.
Asked if the government or its agencies are engaged in changing leadership of major parties or splitting the parties through reform process, Fakhruddin refuted the allegation saying that it is internal affairs of the parties to decide about their leadership and running their parties.
He said lifting of the ban on indoor politics has created an atmosphere for political parties to sit with the Election Commission for discussing reforms of election rules and regulations.
Asked whether the ban on indoor politics was relaxed soon after the arrest of Khaleda Zia in a bid to expedite the reform process to remove both Hasina and Khaleda from their party leadership, the chief adviser said he didn’t think there was any element of truth in it.
He said the government had been contemplating the lifting of ban on indoor politics and it was done at an appropriate time to allow parties to discuss their own party reforms as well as cooperate with the Election Commission in reforming election rules and regulations.
Asked about the conditions imposed after lifting the ban on indoor politics, he said these were not conditions, but some explanations or parameters to give a clear idea about the indoor politics so those who would practice it would not face any confusion.
He mentioned that Awami League already held a meeting at its party office and they had faced no problem.
Asked why the state of emergency is not being relaxed after eight months of its promulgation, the chief adviser said it was imposed against an extraordinary background. The government is moving ahead with a certain mission to hold a free, fair and democratic election acceptable to all.
Asked whether reforms are not possible by relaxing the emergency, he said the question is whether the emergency is creating any problems to general people.
He asserted that the emergency is not causing any problem for general people, for the media in transmitting news or for national economy.
He admitted that due to emergency some fundamental rights might be denied, but this is a temporary measure for long-term welfare of the nation.
This temporary arrangement, he said, would continue for some time more as the government was conducting the twin tasks of holding a national election and curbing corruption, which have been accepted by the people.
Asked whether he thinks evil forces or public grievances were behind the last month’s student unrest on Dhaka University campus, the chief adviser said the DU problem was resolved, but the one-man judicial commission that has been constituted to find out how and why this unrest had spread out.
The government is waiting for the report of the inquiry commission, he added.
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