Whatever happens, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has expressed his determination to support the interim government of Bangladesh to complete the reforms.
He made this comment in an interview given to the news agency Reuters. According to Reuters, General Walker and his troops sided with Hasina in massive student-led protests against her in early August, which ensured Hasina’s ouster after 15 years in power as she fled to neighboring India.
Reuters reported that this interview was held yesterday in the capital Dhaka. General Walker said he has full support for the interim administration of the government led by Nobel Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus.
“I will stand by him,” said General Walker. No matter what happens. So that he can complete his mission.
It is to be noted that Yunus has promised essential reforms in the judiciary, police, financial institutions, free and fair elections in the country.
General Walker, who took over as army chief just weeks before Hasina’s departure, said a return to democracy could take a year and a half. He stressed on patience at this time.
“If you ask me, I would say that we need to have a deadline to go to the democratic process,” he said.
Yunus, chief adviser to the interim go44ernment, and army chief Waqar meet weekly and have a ‘very good relationship’.
General Walker said the military is supporting the government’s efforts to stabilize the country after the unrest.
He said, ‘I am sure we can work together. There is no reason for us to fail.’
Reuters reports that more than 1,000 people have been killed in protests over job quotas that began in July. This is the bloodiest chapter in the history of independence of Bangladesh.
After that disturbance, the streets of Dhaka have now become calm. However, after the fall of the Hasina government, some parts of the civil administration are still not functioning properly.
The nearly 190,000-member police force is still in disarray. The army has stepped up operations across the country to maintain law and order.
Walker, a career infantry officer, told Reuters the Bangladesh Army under his command would not interfere politically.
He said, ‘I will not do anything, which will be harmful to my company. I am a professional soldier. I want to keep my army professional.’
After the departure of Hasina, action is being taken against the wrongdoing members of the army in the context of the comprehensive reforms of the government. General Walker said many soldiers have already been punished. However, he did not elaborate.
He said, “If any member of the army is found guilty, I will definitely take action.” He said some military officers may have violated the limits.
He said, in the long term, he wants to keep the army away from the political establishment.
It should be noted that Bangladesh Army with 130,000 members is one of the contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
“That can only happen when there is some balance of power between the president and the prime minister, where the military is directly under the president,” General Walker said of keeping the military out of politics.
The Bangladesh Army currently resides under the Ministry of Defence. It remains virtually under the control of the Prime Minister.
General Walker said that some amendments may be made in this regard in the ongoing constitutional reforms under the interim government.
He said, ‘The military as a whole should not be used for political purposes. No soldier will be involved in politics in any way.