‘Threat to Bangladesh’s sovereignty’
The Army chief has pleaded that in the country the requirements of nationalism and proper discipline are very acute. He said, if such infighting and killings persist in the society, it is quite likely that the independence and the territorial integrity of the nation could be in jeopardy. ‘If you do not forget the conflicts to unite and keep on smearing each other’s images, then the existence of the country will be in jeopardy.’
8,600 arrested in Operation ‘Devil Hunt’
It may be recalled that violence, vandalism and riots have intensified in Bangladesh for the recent several months. By mid-February, the situation had gone so bad that the security forces had to launch a vigorous operation known as Operation Devil Hunt. In this operation, over 8,600 individuals were arrested. The caretaker administration has warned, that the surveillance of those people who are more attracted to innovations and complain about the social direction already leads to unintended consequences which in turn affect the nation.
Army got special powers after the fall of the Hasina government
The Prime Minister had to quit the reins after last August’s student movement and the police received arrest and assembled police-judicial powers. During this time, they also had to face the charge of their involvements in abduction, murder, and torture cases. Gen Zaman said that these allegations need to be pursued to the extremity and that there will be an unpunished crime, then we will again be trapped in the same cycle.
Statement on interim government and elections
The Chief of the Army Staff asked people to support the temporary government led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. He said the next general elections would take place in late 2025 or the beginning of 2026. In the meantime, the student leader of the movement, Nayana Islam, resigned from the interim government and which was followed by the launching of his new political party on February 28.
