Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has said the general election should ideally be held by December this year, stating that only an elected government has the mandate to determine the country’s future course.
Speaking at an officers' address at Senaprangan in Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday, General Waker said his stance on the election remained unchanged, according to media reports.
“The right to shape the nation’s future belongs to an elected government,” he told officers of various ranks, some of whom attended virtually.
According to several officers present at the closed-door event, the army chief touched on a range of issues, including the election, humanitarian corridors, port operations, reform measures and mob violence.
Responding to a question on discussions about a humanitarian corridor in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, General Waker said any decision must come from an elected government and follow legal procedures.
“National interest must come first in any action. Whatever is done must be guided by political consensus.”
He issued a strong warning against mob violence, saying the military was taking a tougher stance on public disorder.
“Violence and chaos in the name of mass mobilization will no longer be tolerated,” the army chief said.
Addressing recent debates over foreign management of the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong port, General Waker said decisions on such matters must involve public consultation. “The opinions of locals and political leaders are important. Such decisions should be made through a political government.”
“I have no knowledge of what reforms are being carried out or how,” General Waker said, talking about the interim government’s reform initiatives, noting that he had not been consulted and no advice had been sought from him on the matter.
With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, the chief of army staff instructed all personnel to support efforts to ensure public safety and a festive environment during the holiday.
General Waker also said the Bangladesh Army would never take part in any activity that undermined the country’s sovereignty, instructing troops to remain neutral and carry out any future election-related responsibilities with honesty and dedication.
He thanked the troops for their service under evolving circumstances, adding that the army was cooperating with the interim government and would continue to do so.