Army chief pledges full support for interim govt

Bangladesh’s army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, in an interview with Reuters, has vowed to support the country’s interim government in implementing crucial reforms and ensuring elections are held within the next 18 months, following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina last month.

The general and the military stood aside in early August amid student-led protests against Hasina, who resigned after 15 years in power and fled to India.

In the interview, published on Tuesday, Zaman expressed his commitment to the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, and emphasized the importance of removing political influence from the military.

“I will stand beside him, come what may, so that he can accomplish his mission,” said Waker, as he described his support for Yunus’s efforts to reform the judiciary, police, and financial institutions.

These reforms, he said, are essential for a fair election in the nation of over 170 million people.

Following these changes, Waker, who assumed his role as army chief just weeks before Hasina’s departure, anticipates a transition to democracy within a year to 18 months. He stressed the need for patience.

The army chief told Reuters that he meets weekly with Yunus, and their cooperation has been crucial in stabilizing the country after a period of turmoil.

He emphasized that the Bangladesh Army would not engage in politics. “I am a professional soldier. I would like to keep my army professional,” he stated, adding that the military is addressing allegations of misconduct within its ranks as part of the broader reforms initiated since Hasina’s removal.

The interim government has established a five-member commission, led by a former high court judge, to investigate the disappearances of up to 600 individuals reportedly abducted by security forces since 2009.

Waker told Reuters about his commitment to holding any guilty military personnel accountable but refrained from providing further details.

He advocated for constitutional reforms to place the armed forces under the president’s direct authority, rather than the prime minister-controlled defence ministry, to prevent the military from being used for political purposes.

“The military as a whole must not be used for political purposes ever,” he declared. “A soldier must not indulge in politics.”